Body reserves dynamics of tropical cattle in two contrasting case studies: Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal) and Caribbean (Cuba)
Abstract
Objective: To compare the dynamics of body reserves mobilization-accretion of tropical cows in two contrasting case studies, across successive physiological states. Materials and Methods: Similar protocols were designed for the longitudinal monitoring of body reserves dynamics in cows in Senegal (n= 20, Gobra Zebu) and Cuba (n= 109, crossbred) from different farms during 17 and 24 months, respectively, and across contrasting physiological states, successive production cycles, climatic seasons, and environmental and management conditions. Linear mixed models were used to analyze: body weight, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, lactose, triglycerides, and glucose. Results: In both cases, the body reserves mobilization occurred typically from late gestation to early lactation, while their replenishment was mostly observed from mid-lactation to mid-gestation of the subsequent pregnancy. Environmental factors (farm and climatic season) significantly influenced the body reserves dynamics in both cases. At a similar stage of lactation and with similar energy requirements, no differences were observed in the fatty acid levels of Senegalese cows calving before and after the rainfall, whereas in Cuba, the physiological stage was a key factor in this dynamic in relation to the climatic season (forage availability). Conclusion: Both study areas showed generally common trends, as well as specific characteristics in the expression of interindividual variability in body reserves dynamics. The results offer relevant insights for understanding this complex trait in an emerging field of research for the tropics.
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BibTeX
@misc{cormary2026body,
title = {{Body reserves dynamics of tropical cattle in two contrasting case studies: Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal) and Caribbean (Cuba)}},
author = {Boris Cormary and Bérénice Bois and Marlon Rodríguez-Abreu and Vincent Pérez-González and Paulo Salgado and Redimio Manuel Pedraza-Olivera and Eliel González-García},
howpublished = {HAL},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05751519v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Body reserves dynamics of tropical cattle in two contrasting case studies: Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal) and Caribbean (Cuba)
AU - Boris Cormary
AU - Bérénice Bois
AU - Marlon Rodríguez-Abreu
AU - Vincent Pérez-González
AU - Paulo Salgado
AU - Redimio Manuel Pedraza-Olivera
AU - Eliel González-García
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
PB - HAL
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05751519v1
AB - Objective: To compare the dynamics of body reserves mobilization-accretion of tropical cows in two contrasting case studies, across successive physiological states. Materials and Methods: Similar protocols were designed for the longitudinal monitoring of body reserves dynamics in cows in Senegal (n= 20, Gobra Zebu) and Cuba (n= 109, crossbred) from different farms during 17 and 24 months, respectively, and across contrasting physiological states, successive production cycles, climatic seasons, and environmental and management conditions. Linear mixed models were used to analyze: body weight, body condition score, and plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, lactose, triglycerides, and glucose. Results: In both cases, the body reserves mobilization occurred typically from late gestation to early lactation, while their replenishment was mostly observed from mid-lactation to mid-gestation of the subsequent pregnancy. Environmental factors (farm and climatic season) significantly influenced the body reserves dynamics in both cases. At a similar stage of lactation and with similar energy requirements, no differences were observed in the fatty acid levels of Senegalese cows calving before and after the rainfall, whereas in Cuba, the physiological stage was a key factor in this dynamic in relation to the climatic season (forage availability). Conclusion: Both study areas showed generally common trends, as well as specific characteristics in the expression of interindividual variability in body reserves dynamics. The results offer relevant insights for understanding this complex trait in an emerging field of research for the tropics.
ER -