DOI - Mendel University Press

DOI identifiers

DOI: 10.11118/nutrinet2026_003

LIVER HEALTH IN THE PERIPARTURIENT PERIOD AND ITS EFFECT ON MILK PRODUCTION AND REPRODUCTION IN DAIRY COWS

Beáta Fraňová1, Iveta Maskaľová1, Petra Timkovičová Lacková1
1 Department of Animal Nutrition and Husbandry, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, Košice, Slovakia

The periparturient period is a critical phase in dairy cows because negative energy balance and lipid mobilization may impair liver function, milk production, and reproductive performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between energy balance, liver health indicators, milk production, and pregnancy success after the first insemination in multiparous dairy cows from a commercial herd with high milk production. Forty cows were assessed using production records, reproductive data, biochemical blood parameters, and calculated liver indices, including the liver functionality index (LFI) and liver health index (LHI). The results indicate that cows with more favorable liver health indicators showed better metabolic adaptation after calving and more favorable production and reproductive outcomes. The findings support the practical use of LHI as a simple tool for early identification of cows at risk of impaired transition performance.

Keywords: liver, energy balance, milk production, reproduction

pages: 25-34, online: 2026



References

  1. ABDELLI, Amine, et al. Elevated non-esterified fatty acid and β-hydroxybutyrate in transition dairy cows and their association with reproductive performance and disorders: A meta-analysis. Theriogenology, 2017, 93: 99-104. Go to original source...
  2. BERTONI, Giuseppe; TREVISI, Erminio. Use of the liver activity index and other metabolic variables in the assessment of metabolic health in dairy herds. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 2013, 29.2: 413-431. Go to original source...
  3. BIONAZ, M. et al. Plasma paraoxonase, health, inflammatory conditions, and liver function in transition dairy cows. Journal of dairy science, 2007, 90.4: 1740-1750. Go to original source...
  4. BUTLER, W. R. Nutrition, negative energy balance and fertility in the postpartum dairy cow. Cattle Pract, 2005, 13.1: 13-8.
  5. CONTRERAS, G. Andres; SORDILLO, Lorraine M. Lipid mobilization and inflammatory responses during the transition period of dairy cows. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2011, 34.3: 281-289. Go to original source...
  6. DANIEL, Jean-Baptiste, et al. A method to estimate cow potential and subsequent responses to energy and protein supply according to stage of lactation. Journal of dairy science, 2017, 100.5: 3641-3657. Go to original source...
  7. DRACKLEY, James K. Biology of dairy cows during the transition period: The final frontier?. Journal of dairy science, 1999, 82.11: 2259-2273. Go to original source...
  8. DRACKLEY, James K. Dietary Interventions for Optimal Liver Function in High-Yielding Dairy Cows. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 2025, 14. Go to original source...
  9. ESPOSITO, Giulia, et al. Interactions between negative energy balance, metabolic diseases, uterine health and immune response in transition dairy cows. Animal reproduction science, 2014, 144.3-4: 60-71. Go to original source...
  10. GARVERICK, H. A., et al. Concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and glucose in blood of periparturient dairy cows are indicative of pregnancy success at first insemination. Journal of dairy science, 2013, 96.1: 181-188. Go to original source...
  11. HU, Haitao, et al. An overview of the development of perinatal stress-induced fatty liver and therapeutic options in dairy cows. Stress Biology, 2025, 5.1: 14. Go to original source...
  12. HUHTANEN, Pekka, et al. Evaluation of between-cow variation in milk urea and rumen ammonia nitrogen concentrations and the association with nitrogen utilization and diet digestibility in lactating cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 2015, 98.5: 3182-3196. Go to original source...
  13. KERWIN, A. L., et al. Associations of a liver health index with health, milk yield, and reproductive performance in dairy herds in the northeastern United States. JDS communications, 2022, 3.6: 446-450. Go to original source...
  14. LEBLANC, S. J. Interactions of metabolism, inflammation, and reproductive tract health in the postpartum period in dairy cattle. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 2012, 47: 18-30. Go to original source...
  15. LUCY, MC. Functional differences in the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor axis in cattle and pigs: implications for post-partum nutrition and reproduction. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 2008, 43: 31-39. Go to original source...
  16. MADUREIRA, A. M. L., et al. Factors affecting expression of estrus measured by activity monitors and conception risk of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 2015, 98.10: 7003-7014. Go to original source...
  17. MAO, Siqing, et al. Hepatotoxicity of Nonesterified Fatty Acids to Dairy Cows: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Prospective Solutions. Animal Research and One Health, 2026, 4.2: 167-184. Go to original source...
  18. MCART, Jessica AA, et al. Elevated non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate and their association with transition dairy cow performance. The Veterinary Journal, 2013, 198.3: 560-570. Go to original source...
  19. MEZZETTI, Matteo, et al. The transition period updated: A review of the new insights into the adaptation of dairy cows to the new lactation. Dairy, 2021, 2.4: 617-636. Go to original source...
  20. MONTAGNER, Paula, et al. Reduction of liver function delays resumption of postpartum ovarian activity and alters the synthesis of acute phase proteins in dairy cows. Research in Veterinary Science, 2016, 106: 84-88. Go to original source...
  21. MONTAGNER, Paula, et al. Relationship between pre-partum body condition score changes, acute phase proteins and energy metabolism markers during the peripartum period in dairy cows. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2017, 16.2: 329-336. Go to original source...
  22. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. 7th rev. ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Sciences. ISBN 978-0-309-06997-7.
  23. NELSON, Tate Michael, 2024. Nutritional Factors That Influence Rumen and Liver Health During the Periparturient Period. Ithaca, NY. PhD thesis. Cornell University.
  24. OSPINA, P. A., et al. Associations of elevated nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations with early lactation reproductive performance and milk production in transition dairy cattle in the northeastern United States. Journal of dairy science, 2010, 93.4: 1596-1603. Go to original source...
  25. TREVISI, ERMINIO, et al. Metabolic stress and inflammatory response in high-yielding, periparturient dairy cows. Research in veterinary science, 2012, 93.2: 695-704. Go to original source...
  26. WATHES, D. C., et al. Differences between primiparous and multiparous dairy cows in the inter-relationships between metabolic traits, milk yield and body condition score in the periparturient period. Domestic animal endocrinology, 2007, 33.2: 203-225. Go to original source...
  27. WEBER, C., et al. Hepatic gene expression involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in transition cows: Effects of fat mobilization during early lactation in relation to milk performance and metabolic changes. Journal of dairy science, 2013, 96.9: 5670-5681. Go to original source...
  28. WHITE, Heather M. The role of TCA cycle anaplerosis in ketosis and fatty liver in periparturient dairy cows. Animals, 2015, 5.3: 793-802. Go to original source...
  29. YÁNIZ, J. L., et al. Factors affecting walking activity at estrus during postpartum period and subsequent fertility in dairy cows. Theriogenology, 2006, 66.8: 1943-1950. Go to original source...
  30. ZHOU, Z., et al. Circulating amino acids in blood plasma during the peripartal period in dairy cows with different liver functionality index. Journal of dairy science, 2016, 99.3: 2257-2267. Go to original source...
Return