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Related Experiment Videos

Serum folates in gestating and lactating dairy cows.

C L Girard1, J J Matte, G F Tremblay

  • 1Agriculture Canada Research Station, Lennoxville, Québec.

Journal of Dairy Science
|December 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Folic acid levels in dairy cows naturally decrease during late gestation. Supplementation with folic acid during late pregnancy can increase serum folate levels, suggesting a higher requirement during this period.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal Science
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Reproductive Physiology

Background:

  • Folate is essential for numerous metabolic processes, including DNA synthesis and cell division.
  • Understanding folate dynamics in dairy cows is crucial for optimizing reproductive performance and health.
  • Physiological stages significantly impact nutrient requirements and metabolism in livestock.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in serum folate concentrations across different physiological stages in dairy cows.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of folic acid supplementation in late gestation and early lactation dairy cows.
  • To determine the optimal dosage of folic acid for intramuscular injection in pregnant dairy cows.

Main Methods:

  • Experiment 1: Measured plasma volume, serum folate concentration, and total serum folates in cows at five physiological stages (parturition, 2 mo postpartum, 3, 6 mo gestation, and dry off).
  • Experiment 2: Administered varying doses of folic acid (40-320 mg) via intramuscular injection to late-gestation and early-lactation cows.
  • Determined serum and milk folate levels at multiple time points before and after folic acid administration.

Main Results:

  • Total serum folates peaked 2 months postpartum and decreased towards parturition.
  • Plasma volume did not vary significantly across physiological stages.
  • Folic acid injection increased serum folates in late-gestation cows, with 160 mg being the most effective dose.
  • Folic acid supplementation had no significant effect on serum or milk folates in early lactation cows.

Conclusions:

  • Dairy cows experience a decline in total serum folates from 2 months postpartum to parturition.
  • Intramuscular folic acid supplementation can effectively raise serum folate levels in late gestation.
  • These findings suggest an elevated folic acid requirement during dairy cow gestation.

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