There are few published works on energy metabolism in water buffaloes during early lactation,
Is it similar to the case of dairy cows and the negative energy balance?
Does it have a negative impact on health and reproduction?
its intensity depends on the level of production?
I agree with the answer as for dairy cattle in the condition of post partrient fever, as a result of negative energy balance. It is complicated by the deficiency of electrolites and carbohydrates.
It is true for every species because initially dry matter intake is less whereas energy demand is more and increase steadily. On the other hand dry matter intake does not increase to the desired level and therefore nagative energy balance occurs for first few days say 100 days.
Hello Hector,
it is true that water buffalos undergo NEB similar to that observed in dairy cows. The causes are related to the increase of energy requirement at the end of gestation and the reduction on dry matter intake due to progress of gestation, in addition the mother is entering in a new lactation and it demands more energy partioning. In the article "High serum free fatty acids and low leptin levels: Plausible metabolic indicators of negativeenergy balance in early lactating Murrah buffaloes", Golla et al. (2019) observed some indicators to diagnose NEB, such as free fatty acids and leptin. The noticed that there is a difference in the occurance of NEB between high milk yielders than in lower, so it depends on the level of production. Moreover, they also observed that NEB was probably restricted to the first month of early lactation. On the articles I know, I have never found the effects of NEB in reproduction traits, immuno competence and health. So, it is a field for more work! I hope I could help you in your question. See you.
Henrique Barbosa Hooper
Thank you very much for your response, I read that article, very interesting. And I am in total agreement with that results and your comment.
I think that a big issue (at least in Venezuela) is that it is assumed that buffalo cow will not have reproductive problems, but then we see articles in which factors that affect reproduction are identified. The buffalo herds are being genetically improved to produce more milk and we must be attentive to the consequences this would have on other body systems. We have reported a positive correlation between milk production and calving interval.
I also agree with your comment, thanks for sharing. If you have any new about it, just let me know. Sincerely, Henrique.
The loss of body condition early in the postpartum is a predisposing factor for the occurrence of subclinical endometritis during week 4 and 5 postpartum (Senosy and Hussein. Anim Reprod Sci.140 (1–2): 40-46).
I think that buffalo suffer from NEB particularly buffalo produce milk with high fat percentage about two folds higher than cattle This may affect their reproductive performance by increasing silent heat or cystic follicles and other reproductive disorders
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