Biochemical indices of the functional state of the liver during the dry period and the first trimester of lactation in Black-and-White cows with different postpartum ovarian activities

Objective: to study the biochemical indices of the functional state of the liver during the dry and postpartum periods in Black-and-White cows s in relation to the dynamics of ovarian luteal activity resumption.
Materials and methods. The study included 69 cows in their second to fourth lactation periods, from which blood samples were taken 6, 4, and 2 weeks before calving and 1, 3, 7, and 13 weeks after calving. The functional state of the ovaries was assessed 7 and 13 weeks after calving using rectal and ultrasound examinations. The ovarian luteal activity was assessed based on the blood progesterone levels. The cows were divided into 4 groups: I – luteal activity was diagnosed by the 7th week postpartum (n=29); II – luteal activity was detected by the 13th week postpartum (n=16), III – luteal activity was not detected within 13 weeks after calving in the absence of signs of ovarian hypofunction (n=12), IV – the presence of signs of moderate or severe ovarian hypofunction (n=12).
Results. Throughout the observation period, albumin concentrations in the blood of cows in Group IV were 1,1— 1,2 times lower (p<0,001-0,05), and globulin concentrations were 1,2—1,3 times higher (p<0,01-0,05) than in Group I. Furthermore, compared with Group I, the albumin level was 1,1 times lower (p<0,01—0,05) in animals in Groups II and III from the 3rd to the 13th week of lactation, while the globulin level was 1,1—1,2 times higher (p<0,01—0,05) in individuals of Group II (6 weeks before calving) and Group III (1 week after calving). The concentration of bilirubin in the blood of cows was higher than in Group I, 4 weeks before calving — in animals of Group III (1,5 times, p<0,01) and 2 weeks before calving — in animals of Group IV (1,3 times, p<0,05). Aspartate aminotransferase activity was 1,2—1,3 times lower (p<0,01) in Group I than in Group II after 7 weeks of lactation and in Group III after 7 and 13 weeks. The activity of alanine aminotransferase in Group I was 1,2—1,3 times higher (p<0,05) than in Group III (6 weeks before calving) and in Groups II and IV (after 13 weeks of lactation). Triglyceride concentrations in Group I animals were 1,2—1,3 times higher (p<0,01—0,05) than in animals of the other three groups at different time periods from the 4th week before calving to the 7th week after calving.

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