Diagnosis of subclinical ketosis in dairy cows

Radojica Djokovic,Marko Cincovic,Milos Petrovic,Milan Petrovic,Violeta Caro-Perovic,Vladimir Kurcubic,Zoran Ilic

doi:10.2298/bah1902111d

Radojica Djokovic, Marko Cincovic + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2298/bah1902111d

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Abstract

Ketosis is a common disease in high producing dairy cows during the early lactation period. Subclinical ketosis (SCK) and periparturient diseases considerably account for economic and welfare losses in dairy cows. Subclinical ketosis poses an increased risk of production-related diseases such as clinical ketosis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, lameness, mastitis and metritis. Production efficiency decreases (lower milk production, poor fertility, and increased culling rates), which results in economic losses. Increased concentrations of circulating ketone bodies, predominantly ?-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), without the presence of clinical signs of ketosis are considered as SCK. It is characterized by increased levels of ketone bodies in the blood, urine and milk. The gold standard test for ketosis is blood BHB. This ketone body is more stable in blood than acetone or acetoacetate. The most commonly used cut-points for subclinical ketosis are 1.2 mmol/L or 1.4 mmol/L for BHB in the blood. Clinical ketosis generally involves much higher levels of BHB, about 3.0 mmol/L or more. Usually, detection of SCK is carried out by testing ketone body concentrations in blood, urine and milk. A variety of laboratory and cowside tests are available for monitoring ketosis in dairy herds. But no cowside test has perfect sensitivity and specificity compared to blood BHB as the gold standard test. The aim of this review is to overview diagnostic tests for SCK in dairy cows, including laboratory and cowside tests.

Highlights

Production diseases i.e. diseases associated with improper nutrition or management are common in dairy cows(Ospina et al, 2010; Brunner et al, 2019)
Herds with ketosis problems in early lactation cows tend to have increased incidence of displaced abomasum (>8%) and increased herd removals in the first 60 days in milk (>8%).The costs associated with Subclinical ketosis (SCK) in affected cows are substantial, and include the loss of milk yield
A variety of laboratory and cowside tests are available for monitoring ketosis in dairy herds

Summary

Introduction

Production diseases i.e. diseases associated with improper nutrition or management are common in dairy cows(Ospina et al, 2010; Brunner et al, 2019). Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is an important production disease of dairy cows and continues to cause significant economic losses to the dairy industry. Ketone body levels in blood, urine and milk can be monitored to detect SCK in cows, and to increase their chances of successful lactation (Geishauser et al, 2001; Seifi et al, 2011; Zhang et al, 2012). Ketosis results in decreased milk production, impaired fertility and increased frequency of other diseases. Most cases occur in the first 6 weeks to 2 months after calving. As the course of the disease is often subclinical, early detection is very important. SCK causes greater losses than clinical ketosis because it occurs more frequently and often cannot be detected by farmers (Duffield, 2000; Geishauser et al, 2000; Oetzel, 2004, 2007; Brunneret al., 2019)

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