Abstract
An investigation to study the prevalence and clinico-pathology of ketosis in dairy cows was undertaken from November 2007 to May 2008 at Kalamino, Agazi and Mekelle University dairy farms in and around Mekelle town of Tigray region of Ethiopia. Recently- calved cows were screened for ketosis by subjecting urine and milk sample to strip (URS-10) and Rothera’s tests. An overall prevalence of 12.29% was recorded with highest prevalence during January and February. Age-wise, the highest prevalence was noticed at 8-9 years of age (73.34%). Cows in their 4th lactation (46.67%) and those in 1-2 months (53.35%) of lactation had significantly higher prevalence (p< 0.005). The clinical observations in ketotic cows were anorexia, refusal to take concentrate and decrease in milk yield. There was 30-100% decrease in milk yield in most of the cases. The body temperature, pulse and respiration rates were within normal range with decreased rumen motility. Feces were scanty, mucoid and dry; and urine, breath and fresh milk had characteristic smell of acetone. Ketotic animals were treated with dextrose and insulin. Keywords : Dairy Cows, Ketosis, Prevalence, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Highlights
Ketosis, has been recognized as one of the main important metabolic disorders in dairy cows
A high prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical ketosis has been recorded in recently- calved highyielding dairy cows in many countries (Mcsherry, 1977)
Little work has been done on ketosis in dairy cows in Ethiopia which comprise about 42% of the total cattle herds and any disease related to production causes a heavy loss to the farmers (FAO, 1993)
Summary
Ketosis, (acetonemia) has been recognized as one of the main important metabolic disorders in dairy cows. It is caused by impaired metabolism of carbohydrate and volatile fatty acids that lead to excessive production of ketone bodies: acetoacetic acid, beta-hydroxybutric acid and their decarboxylation product such as acetone and isopropanol (Radostits et al, 2000). Little work has been done on ketosis in dairy cows in Ethiopia which comprise about 42% of the total cattle herds and any disease related to production causes a heavy loss to the farmers (FAO, 1993). The present investigation was under- taken to record the prevalence and clinico-pathology of clinical ketosis in cattle dairy farms in and around Mekelle town of Tigray region of Ethiopia.
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