Different reticuloruminal pH metrics of high-yielding dairy cattle during the transition period in relation to metabolic health, activity, and feed intake
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The measurement of pH in the reticulorumen in combination with a time–pH threshold has been widely applied in research to diagnose subacute ruminal acidosis. However, other pH metrics also have biological value. In this study, 44 animals were monitored during the transition period using reticuloruminal pH boluses. Traditional and more complex pH characteristics were calculated to characterize the reticuloruminal pH profile: time pH <6, slope of a logistic cumulative pH curve (β0), and deviations [squared error (SqEr)] from pH predictions based on a harmonic static model. In this study, we aimed to examine the associations between those pH metrics and metabolic health parameters, feed intake, and activity. Finally, to describe the reticuloruminal pH dynamically, we also constructed a dynamic linear model. The results of this model were studied in relation to feed intake. All pH parameters were mutually correlated (particularly β0 and SqEr; mean Pearson correlation of −0.52). pH patterns, rather than time pH <6, were associated with metabolic health and feed intake: high variation in daily pH (β0 parameter) was reflected in higher blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids. Moreover, pH deviations of the harmonic model were negatively associated with feed intake and rumination behavior. This research confirms the biological importance of pH metrics focusing on pH variation and pH deviations and provides deeper insight into its associations with metabolic health status, feed intake, and activity during early lactation.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Dairy Science |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 6880-6894 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISSN | 0022-0302 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Dairy Science Association
- diurnal pH patterns, metabolic health status, reticuloruminal pH bolus, subacute ruminal acidosis
Research areas
ID: 317107592