Metabolic profiles in five high-producing Swedish dairy herds with a history of abomasal displacement and ketosis.
BACKGROUND
Body condition score and blood profiles have been used to monitor management and herd health in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to examine BCS and extended metabolic profiles, reflecting both energy metabolism and liver status around calving in high-producing herds with a high incidence of abomasal displacement and ketosis and to evaluate if such profiles can be used at herd level to pinpoint specific herd problems.


METHODS
Body condition score and metabolic profiles around calving in five high-producing herds with high incidences of abomasal displacement and ketosis were assessed using linear mixed models (94 cows, 326 examinations). Cows were examined and blood sampled every three weeks from four weeks ante partum (ap) to nine weeks postpartum (pp). Blood parameters studied were glucose, fructosamine, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin, beta-hydroxybutyrate, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, haptoglobin and cholesterol.


RESULTS
All herds had overconditioned dry cows that lost body condition substantially the first 4-6 weeks pp. Two herds had elevated levels of NEFA ap and three herds had elevated levels pp. One herd had low levels of insulin ap and low levels of cholesterol pp. Haptoglobin was detected pp in all herds and its usefulness is discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
NEFA was the parameter that most closely reflected the body condition losses while these losses were not seen in glucose and fructosamine levels. Insulin and cholesterol were potentially useful in herd profiles but need further investigation. Increased glutamate dehydrogenase suggested liver cell damage in all herds.
Stengärde
Lena
L
Division of Ruminant Medicine and Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7054, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden. Lena.Stengarde@kv.slu.se
Tråvén
Madeleine
M
Emanuelson
Ulf
U
Holtenius
Kjell
K
Hultgren
Jan
J
Niskanen
Rauni
R
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000018:Abomasum / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007662:Ketosis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006242:Haptoglobins; D007328:Insulin; D019270:Fructosamine; D002784:Cholesterol; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid