transition period is an important period for milch animals. during this period feeding is also utmost important. During this time feeding and management decide the future of dairy animals.

1. NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES DURING PERI-PARTURIENT PERIOD
FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY ANIMALS
Prepared By:
Dr. Dharmesh Tewari
Assistant Professor, C.V.Sc. & A.H.
ANDUAT, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh

2.  Periparturient /Transition
period
“state of near maintenance
requirements in late gestation
changing to that of rapidly increasing
metabolic and nutrient demands
needed for the onset of lactation”

3. classical homeorhetic adaptations in physiology and metabolism

4. Endocrine adaptations
During the dry period, concentrations of
insulin and leptin reflect energy balance
and generally are higher than in late
lactation
 DMI may be decreased by 10% to 30%
compared with intake during the early dry
period
 Secretion of GH increases near
parturition, GH promotes mobilization of
stored nutrients (primarily fat from
adipose tissue) to support milk production.

5. Glucose and protein metabolism
Dairy animals depend extensively on hepatic
gluconeogenesis from propionate to meet their
glucose requirements.
Increase conversion of amino acids from the diet or
from skeletal muscle, particularly alanine and
glutamine, and glycerol from mobilized adipose TAG
to glucose.
Loss of muscle mass may begin before calving and
before the initiation of fat mobilization.
Deficiency in metabolizable protein supply may be
linked to ketosis and other peripartal diseases,
which in turn may decrease fertility.

6. Lipid metabolism
The profile of low insulin and high GH concentrations orients the
adipose tissues toward mobilization of stored triacylglycerols (TAG)
 Lipogenesis is almost completely inhibited, which decreases re-
esterification of NEFA within adipocytes.
Increased ketogenesis, which occurs when glucose supply is limited
during NEB, can result in ketosis.
Because ruminant animals are unable to effectively export TAG from the
liver as very low density lipoproteins, TAG can accumulate and cause
fatty liver.

7. Immune system function
Decreased ability of the immune
system to respond to high
incidence of mastitis metritis and
retained placenta.
Vitamins A and E as well as trace
minerals (selenium, copper, zinc)
play a role in immune function.
 NEB or deficiency of
metabolizable protein may be a
major contributing factor for
impaired function of the immune
system.

8. Calcium metabolism
The sudden onset of milk synthesis
results in a tremendous demand for
calcium leading to milk fever.
Subclinical hypocalcaemia contributes
displaced abomasum and ketosis.
Hypocalcaemia may compromise
muscle function and immune cells.
Until the ability of the digestive tract
to absorb calcium can increase,
calcium must be obtained from bone
resorption.

9. Nutritional strategies during
transition period

10.  Benefits of feeding CE diets prepartum to dairy cows are
having fewer diseases and disorders with easier calving and
greater DMI around parturition
Advantages of having a 2-stage dietary strategy (i.e., far-
off and close-up) in comparison to a 1-stage dietary
strategy throughout the entire dry period
Controlling energy intake during the dry period also
improved neutrophil function postpartum

11.  Dietary fat may help to decrease concentrations of NEFA and
help to prevent occurrence of ketosis.
 Feeding fat (6.7% of diet DM) to animals during the entire dry
period virtually abolished accumulation of triglycerides in liver
during the immediate peripartal period; however, cows fed fat
also had decreased DMI during the dry period.
 Linolenic acid is a precursor to both docosahexaenoic and
eicosapentaenoic acids—collectively, which have roles for the
secretion of apolipoprotein B100 and also for VLDL in
hepatocytes

12.  Overfeeding Calcium (Ca) in the last 4 week before
parturition associated with high incidences of sub-clinical
hypocalcaemia and hypocalcaemia
 Prepartum negative DCAD diets improved concentrations
of Ca in blood at calving, reduced the risk of hypocalcaemia
and uterine diseases, and improved lactation performance
Postpartum positive DCAD diets improve the milk
production and protect the animals from different diseases
like milk fever etc.

13.  Methionine and Lysine are limiting amino acids for milk
production
Rumen-protected AA as evidenced by an increase in milk
yield, milk protein yield, and protein percentage

14.  Choline is a quasi-vitamin and a component of the
predominant phospholipids
Phosphatidylcholine is required for synthesis and
release of VLDL by liver.
 Feeding choline in rumen-protected form to transition
dairy animals tended to decrease the rate of
accumulation of esterified products in liver

15. Monensin within the rumen is to increase ruminal
propionate production at the expense of ruminal
acetate and methane production
Monensin provided in controlled-release capsule (CRC)
form during the transition period and early lactation
has been shown to decrease the incidence of subclinical
ketosis in dairy cows by 50%.

16. Formulation and delivery of appropriate diets
that provide proper amounts of all nutrients
before, during and after calving along with
above discussed nutritional strategies can help
to lessen effects of peri-parturient disease on
production and reproduction of dairy animals.

17. Thanks
for your
kind
attention