1Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Nature Science and
Life; 2Valorisation of Biological Natural’s Resources
Laboratory, Setif University, Algeria*Corresponding author:
mouffokcharefeddine@yahoo.fr
Abstract
This study aimed to
investigate the correlation between body condition score (BCS), blood
biochemical metabolites, milk yield (MY) and quality (Mfat) in Montbéliarde
cattle (31 cows) reared in 5 farms of Algerian semi arid area. The BCS was
measured in dry and peak of lactation (6 weeks after calving). Blood samples
were taken at the time of body condition (BC) measurement for determination of
energy (Glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and B-Hydroxybutyrate), nitrogen
(urea and albumin) and mineral (calcium) metabolites.Milk yield was recorded in the 6th week of lactation (peak). A
sample of milk for each cow was used to determinate milk fat, density and
acidity. The resultsshoweda significant decrease inpostpartum BCS accompanied by an increasein cholesterolandB-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration.
Thecorrelation analysisshowed thatBHB concentration
in pre calving was negatively correlatedwithBCS (r=-0.321; P<0.05)and cholesterol(r=-0.308; P<0.05). In postpartum,
BCS was negatively correlatedwith cholesterol(r=-0.416; P<0.05), urea(r=-0.366; P<0.05) and
BHB(r=-0.487; P<0.05). However, the levelof milk productiondecreasedsignificantly withhighglucose(r=-0.449; P<0.05) and BHB(r=-0.514; P<0.05).
Thefat contentincreased significantly
with blood triglycerides
(r=0.681; P<0.05) andBHB(r=0.522; P<0.05) concentration, indicatinga high mobilization ofbody reserves usedfor the synthesis
ofmilk fat. In conclusion,it can be assumedthat the rate ofBHBseems to bethe best indicator ofthe nutritional
status ofdairy cowsthat
determines theirproduction level andquality.