EFFECT OF BODY CONDITION SCORE AT CALVING ON PERFORMANCE, SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS, AND MILK FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION IN DAIRY-COWS

Effect of body condition score at calving and of change in body condit ion score on productive and reproductive performance, on lactation cur ve parameters, and on postpartum disease occurrence was investigated i n 213 Italian Holstein-Friesian cows. Plasma FFA, glucose, and insulin concentrations and milk fatty acid composition were analyzed in 15 co ws. The cows calving at highest body condition score lost more subcuta neous fat; condition score change did not exceed 1.05 units. Change in body condition score was positively associated with peak and total mi lk production. Occurrence of retained placenta was not related to the content of fat stores at calving. Glucose concentrations were relative ly constant, FFA concentrations were highest, and insulin concentratio ns were lower in cows calving at the highest body condition score. Mil k fatty acid composition reflected the different utilization of body f at stores.