EN
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the body condition of heifers at calving on the replenishment of energy and fat reserves at the first stage of lactation as well as on fertility and productivity. The study was performed on 101 primiparous Holstein-Friesian. Body condition was assessed postpartum, and then at two-week intervals until 20 weeks of lactation. Production traits and fertility were also evaluated. Blood was collected from 18 heifers a week before calving, and on day 7, 14 and 21 postpartum, to determine the metabolic profile. Primiparous cows whose body condition score (BCS) at calving was 3.0 to 3.25 produced the most milk. Cows that had sufficient fat reserves at calving were better prepared for the consequences of high milk production compared to cows whose fat reserves at calving were inadequate. As a result, the former were characterized by more desirable values of fertility indices. Blood analysis made in the perinatal period showed that in the tested population the nutrition level and energy content of diets did not meet the requirements of young growing high-performance first-calf heifers at the beginning of lactation, when feed intake is low and milk yield increases.