Blood inflammatory indices in goats around kidding

Abstract

The transition period of goats is often characterized by serious metabolic problems, mainly before parturition. These troubles are related to negative energy balance status, however all causes are not totally defined. To improve the knowledge about pathogenesis in this phase we have monitored the changes of some blood indices of lipomobilization and inflammation. Six blood samples were collected from 10 primiparous and 25 multiparous “Camosciata delle Alpi” goats after morning milking. Samples were collected around 20 and 7 days before parturition and on days 0, 3, 6 and 12 of lactation. Albumin, total protein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, total cholesterol, NEFA, β-OH-butyrate (BHB), Ca, Mg and Zn were determined. Goats were grouped according to their BHB level before parturition: low (≤0.6 mmol/l; LOB), average (0.6÷1.09; AVB) and high (≥1.09 mmol/l; HIB) level. Furthermore, the AVB group was divided according to plasma haptoglobin level before parturition: low (<0.5 g/l) or high. The statistical evaluation was carried out comparing 4 groups. Nearly all the primiparous goats were allocated in LOB group (55 vs. 19% of goat of other groups), but they had the highest milk yield (n.s.). 69% of goats had typical peripartum troubles around kidding, but the prevalence was higher in HIB (100%) and AVB (65%) groups vs. LOB (44%). Goats with higher BHB before parturition had higher haptoglobin levels before as well as after parturition (P<0.01). Ceruloplasmin was higher in HIB vs. LOB group, but only after parturition (P<0.05). Conversely, Ca (P<0.05) and Mg (only sometime significantly) were lower in HIB vs. LOB group around parturition. Total protein level was significantly higher in LOB group in comparison to HIB, from parturition to 6th day after (P<0.05). AVB goats showed analogous changes of LOB or HIB, according to their levels of haptoglobin. Cholesterol and albumin showed a tendency of higher levels after kidding in groups with low haptoglobin (only sometime in significant way). Our results suggest that an increase of inflammatory indices before kidding could support the typical troubles, with higher blood ketone bodies, in goats around parturition.