Accuracy of Subclinical Ketosis Detection with Rapid Test Methods for BHBA in Blood in Commercial Dairy Farms

Henrike Jansen,A Sharifi,Jürgen Hummel,Wilhelm Wemheuer,Dirk Albers,Marleen Zschiesche

doi:10.3390/dairy2040052

Henrike Jansen, A Sharifi + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy2040052

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Abstract

This study gives an overview of the performance and accuracy of devices used for the fast measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) in blood for the on-farm indication of subclinical ketosis. Data were collected on ten dairy farms. In each farm, blood samples were taken from ten cows on four test days (2, 4, 9 and 11), resulting in 400 samples. The reference method was the BHBA concentration in blood serum (BHBALAB). Four different devices that measure BHBA in whole blood were tested. The thresholds applied for identifying subclinical ketosis were ≥1.0, ≥1.2 and ≥1.4 mmol/L in blood serum. The BHBALAB was assigned in three classes: low—≤0.9 mmol/L; high—>0.9 mmol/L; and total—all values unclassified. Due to initial negative effects on the health and performance of cows with BHBA levels ≥0.9 mmol/L, this cut-off was chosen. The Passing–Bablok regression revealed different constant as well as absolute biases for each device in the aforementioned classes. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve indicated highly accurate results, with 94–97% accuracy levels. As an overall conclusion, the performance of the devices was good and supports their use by farmers for the detection of subclinical ketotic cows in their herds.

Highlights

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is defined as a metabolic disorder of dairy cows, characterized by an accumulation of ketone bodies. It is indicated by an increased β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) level in body fluids without obvious clinical signs [1,2]
The energy demand of dairy cows is higher than the energy supply from the diet due to an insufficient feed intake
The amount of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) that are mobilized is the major determinant for SCK

Summary

Introduction

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is defined as a metabolic disorder of dairy cows, characterized by an accumulation of ketone bodies. It is indicated by an increased β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) level in body fluids (blood, milk, and urine) without obvious clinical signs [1,2]. It occurs predominantly in the first weeks of lactation due to a negative energy balance as a consequence of the onset of milk production. NEFA are either completely oxidized for energy use, re-esterified and exported from or stored in the liver, or incompletely oxidized to ketone bodies (BHBA, acetone, and acetoacetate)

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