The effect of season on the composition of the blood of lactating and non-lactating cows as revealed from repeated metabolic profile tests on 24 dairy herds

Abstract

SUMMARYBlood samples were taken from groups of lactating and non-lactating cows on three occasions from each of 24 commercial dairy herds sampled eight herds at a time at 6-weekly intervals throughout 1972. The blood samples were analysed for packed cell volume, blood glucose and haemoglobin, and for the serum concentrations of albumin, total protein, urea nitrogen, Ca, inorganic phosphate, Mg, K, Na, Cu, and Fe.Clear seasonal patterns were evident for packed cell volume and the mean concentrations of urea nitrogen and haemoglobin each of which were highest during the summer months. The effect of season on the concentrations of the other constituents was smaller. Mean values of packed cell volume, haemoglobin and Fe were consistently higher in the non-lactating cows than in the lactating cows. Mean concentrations of Mg were lower in the blood of non-lactating cows throughout the year; Cu concentrations followed a similar trend in the autumn and winter.There was evidence of overall herd differences regardless of season, in particular for Cu, globulin, Fe and urea nitrogen concentrations.