Efeitos da restrição alimentar e da somatotropina bovina recombinante sobre parâmetros do metabolismo energético, protéico, enzimático e mineral de novilhas leiteiras no pré-parto

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) on energetic, proteic, enzymatic and mineral metabolic parameters of prepartum dairy heifers. Forty four pregnant heifers were used for this study. The experimental period ranged from 35 days prepartum to partum and from 60 days to 160 postpartum. These heifers were divided in four groups with 11 animals each: Control+bST: fed to allow 100% of the dry matter intake (DMI) plus bST injections; Restriction+bST: fed to allow 80% of the DMI plus bST injection; Control: fed to allow 100% of the DMI plus placebo injections and Restriction: fed to allow 80% of the DMI plus placebo injections. The heifers receive three injections in the prepartum period 14 days apart. Measurements of body condition score, weight, productive and reproductive performance were conducted during pre and postpartum periods, while blood parameters were measured only in the prepartum period. Glucose concentrations were higher (P<0.05) in the Control+bST groups compared to Control and Restriction groups, while urea concentrations were higher in Restriction group compared to Control and Control+bST. Non-esterified fatty acids concentrations were higher (P<0.05) for Restriction group compared to Control and Control+bST groups. There was not observed difference (P > 0.05) in the concentrations of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), Ca:P ratio, ketone bodies and liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamil transferase (GGT) between groups. Regarding performance evaluations, no difference was observed for calf weight at birth, retention of fetal membranes, body condition score and reproductive performance, but a tendency (P = 0.06) to higher production in the Control+bST group compared to restriction group was observed. These results shown that prepatum management, including feed restriction and bST injection, could be efficient to allow metabolic and physiologic adaptation to the postpartum period.