Clinical, Hematological and Some Serum Biochemical Alterations in Local Cows Affected with Milk Fever in Gogjalee Region, Mosul, Iraq

Abstract

Milk fever (Hypocalcemia) is a metabolic disorder that has serious economic impacts on health of dairy cattle and production. Current research endeavored to evaluate the clinical, hematological and some biochemical alterations in cows affected with milk fever in the Gogjalee region, Mosul in Iraq. This research was conducted on 30 local breed cows aged (three to seven years) from private farms diagnosed with postparturient paresis according to clinical signs and laboratory confirmations. Ten healthy cows served as control groups.Blood samples were taken from each animal for biochemical and hemogram analysis. Results showed typical clinical signsof milk fever with different stages of the disease. Significant (P<0.05) increasesin the body temperature, respiratory rates and significant (P<0.05) decreases in heart rates in affected animals. Older ages (five to seven years)had considerably higher rate of 73.33%( n=22 ) than three to four-years-old with 26.66%(n=8 ). No significant changes were seen in the blood picture except in the total leukocytic count(TLC). Results revealed significant decrease of Calcium, Inorganic phosphorus, and significant increase of magnesium, haptoglobin(Hp), aspartate amino transferase(AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), and no significant changes in total protein levels compared tothecontrol groups. Our study indicates the prevalence of milk fever in local breed cows in Gogjalee region. A certain parameters (Ca, P and Mg), hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, CK and Hp) are also useful and important in the diagnostic process for detection of milk fever.