Association of Prepartum Blood Glucose and Non-Esterified Fatty Acid and Postpartum Negative Energy Balance in Dairy Cows

Prepartum negative energy balance (NEB) in dairy cows is caused by the in creased demand of energy due to the rapid growth of fetus and decreased feed intake. However, the etiology of prepartum NEB and its association with postpartum NEB are not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the association between preand postpartum NEB in dairy cows. Cows were allocated into four groups based on the blood glucose (GLU) and non esterified fatty acid (NEFA) profiles at 2-0 wk prior to calving: Group I (n=23; low GLU, high NEFA); Group II (n=30; low GLU, low NEFA); Group III (n=15; high GLU, high NEFA) and Received 26 January 2005/ Accepted 23 February 2005 *Correspondence to S.