Associations among body condition score, body weight, and serum biochemistry in dairy cows

ABSTRACT: Body condition score and BW yield insights into body tissue reserves and diet, and serum biochemical measures reflect the metabolic status of cows. Associations between body composition measures and biochemistry are unclear and investigation may reveal important information on the metabolic and physiological status of cattle with varying levels of labile tissue reserves. Cohorts of 739 nonlactating, late-pregnancy, dry cows (26.9 d prepartum, SD = 12.4) and 690 peak-milk cows (58.0 DIM, SD = 14.5) were selected by stratified (parity: 1, 2, 3, >3) random sampling from 30 farms (15 pasture, 15 TMR) in this cross-sectional study. A single serum, BCS (1–5 scale), BW, and milk-production datum was collected per cow, per cohort between November 2022 and July 2023. Eleven analytes were collected, analyzed, and standardized within group (cohort/breed per farm). Mixed linear models for BCS and BW were specified, with the random effect of group. A 6-point, unordered, categorical body-group classification that combined BCS (greater, equal to, or less than group median; as high, median, or low BCS) and BW (greater or less than group median; as high or low BW) was analyzed by polytomous logistic regression. Effect sizes are listed for a 1 SD increase in the specified analyte, keeping other covariables at their mean value. Dry BCS was positively associated with albumin (0.075 BCS ± 0.014 SE), urea (0.038 BCS ± 0.014 SE), and glucose (0.052 BCS ± 0.014 SE), and negatively with the interaction between cholesterol and days precalving. Dry BW positively associated with albumin (11.03 kg ± 2.48 SE) and negatively with cholesterol (−8.47 kg ± 2.57 SE). Peak-milk BCS was positively associated with albumin (0.47 BCS ± 0.015 SE), BHB (0.048 BCS ± 0.015 SE), and glucose (0.051 BCS ± 0.015 SE). Peak-milk BW was positively associated with albumin (6.94 kg ± 2.35 SE) and negatively with Ca (−7.02 kg ± 2.33 SE). Increasing BW and decreasing BCS was associated with increasing parity, except in dry second-parity cows that had low BCS. The dry polytomous model associated a 1 SD increase in albumin with a 4.89% ± 1.56 SE decreased risk of being low BCS/low BW and 5.87% ± 1.46 SE increased risk of high BCS/high BW. Risk change associated with 1 SD of glucose was −5.61% ± 1.58 SE for low BCS/high BW and 3.17% ± 1.58 SE for high BCS/high BW. For the peak-milk cohort, change in risk was associated with albumin for low BCS/low BW −3.67% ± 1.56 SE, low BCS/high BW −3.22% ± 1.53 SE. Risk change with 1 SD of BHB was −3.36% ± 1.47 SE for median BCS/low BW, 2.86% ± 1.44 SE for high BCS/low BW, and 2.69% ± 1.37 SE for high BCS/high BW. Risk of low BCS/low BW was greatest in second-parity cows, and high BCS/high BW was greatest in dry cows with greater than third parity and third-parity cows in peak milk. There were no interactions between parity and analytes. Albumin was consistently associated with BCS and BW, potentially reflecting innate differences in protein metabolism of cows.