Acta Vet. Brno 2019, 88: 11-18

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201988010011

The relationship of body condition indicators with the level of plasma cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript and energy metabolism indicators in dairy cows

Krzysztof Młynek1, Beata Głowińska2, Ewa Salamończyk1

1Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Natural Science, Department of Cattle Breeding and Milk Evaluation, Siedlce, Poland
2UTP University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Department of Animal Physiology, Physiotherapy and Nutrition, Bydgoszcz, Poland

Received January 23, 2018
Accepted February 12, 2019

The factors affecting the course of lactation and intensity of milk secretion include the condition and body weight, as well as chewing time. A little researched factor is also the cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) which has been suggested to have an anorexigenic function. This study sought to examine the dependent indicators of condition and chewing time on daily milk yield assessment in the context of the concentration of CART, glucose and ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in blood. Higher CART levels contributed to shorter chewing time (min/day), lower body condition and lower body weight. Blood glucose concentration showed a stronger correlation with body weight and condition than with blood BHB concentration. An important practical aspect of the results is the relationship shown between CART and chewing time and the potential relation between daily milk production and chewing time. Importantly, the animals with lower daily milk production had relatively the highest concentration CART. This may suggest that this neuropeptide is indirectly involved in milk production, especially by shortening the chewing time. The obtained results help to better explain the mechanisms involved in milk secretion and the process of rumination and digestion. More research is required, but they also show important functions of other examined neuropeptides.

References

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