Professor of Physiology and Nutritional Immunology, University of Alberta, Canada; Cornell University, Purdue University; Iowa State University; Editor in Chief of journal "Dairy" mdpi (cytescore 4.4); >2400 connections
Challenging Myth Number 2: The Concept of Production Diseases In the early 1970s, Jack Payne introduced the term 'production disease' to describe metabolic disorders arising from the increasing demands of high production coupled with intensive husbandry and feeding practices. Fast forward to the present, after sixteen international conferences and numerous advances in biology and veterinary medicine, it's time we reassess this concept through the lens of systems biology. The original definition posited by Payne pointed to a mismatch in the metabolic capacity of farm ruminants under the pressures of intensive agriculture. It was a revolutionary idea that shaped our understanding of metabolic diseases as a failure of the animal to cope with human-imposed demands. Today, our understanding of these disorders has deepened. We recognize that high milk yield doesn't inherently predispose cows to metabolic diseases. Notably, while some high-producing cows experience issues during the transition period, others thrive without any health problems. This disparity suggests that environmental factors aren't the sole players in the development of these conditions—genetic predispositions are equally crucial. High grain diets post-calving can lead to lower rumen pH, affecting the microbiome and increasing endotoxins that can trigger systemic inflammation. This isn't just about the balance between input (feed) and output (milk) anymore. We're looking at a complex interaction involving diet, microbiome, genetic factors, and overall cow health. Payne's concept, while foundational, didn't have the benefit of insights into bacterial endotoxins and their role in periparturient diseases. With current evidence, we can assert that metabolic diseases in dairy cows extend beyond the 'put-put' or imbalance model. They are shaped by a myriad of factors that include but are not limited to, the cow's genotype and the interaction of its microbiome with the diet. Meta-analyses and epidemiological studies, like those by Ingvartsen et al. (2003), have challenged the notion that higher milk production automatically means a greater risk of disease. Instead, they emphasize a more nuanced relationship where cow management, nutrition, and genetics all play a part. #VeterinaryMedicine #DairyScience #AnimalHealth #ProductionDiseases #SystemsBiology #DairyCattle #TransitionCows #VeterinaryScience
