Abstract
Currently, ketosis has no fully satisfactory resolution in dairy cows. Here, we investigated the effect of levocarnitine or vitamin B complex and E with selenium on clinically ketotic cows (β-hydroxybutyrate ≥ 3.0 mmol/L and decreased milk yield), fed glycerin. In total, 18 cases of Holstein cows with clinical ketosis during the postpartum transition period were randomly assigned to three treatments (6 cases per group): (1) levocarnitine (C+G), (2) vitamin B complex and E with selenium (VBES+G), and (3) levocarnitine and vitamin B complex and E with selenium (C+VBES+G). All groups were administered glycerin. Treatments were administered daily for 4 days. Blood sampling was performed on the onset day of ketosis (day 0), day 4, and day 6. β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), milk yield (MY), and serum biochemical values were measured. Half of the animals in C+G failed to overcome clinical ketosis. VBES+G treatment ameliorated BHBA (p < 0.05), MY, and glucose on day 4. However, ketosis was exacerbated following the discontinuation of the treatment. C+VBES+G treatment improved BHBA, glucose (p < 0.05), and MY and reduced ketotic cases on days 4 and 6 with greater improvements compared to the others. In conclusion, combined treatment with levocarnitine, vitamin B complex and E with selenium, and glycerin may have the therapeutic effect on clinical ketosis.
Highlights
Ketosis, which is caused by negative energy balance, is a common metabolic disorder during the postpartum transition period in dairy cows
The levocarnitine and vitamin B complex and vitamin E with Selenium (C+VBES+G) group had the oldest cows and highest parity, and they suffered from clinical ketosis earlier than cows from any other group (Table 2)
VBES + G was ameliorated on day 4, but BHBA of this group increased on day 6 and a third of the group returned to clinical ketosis on day 6
Summary
Ketosis, which is caused by negative energy balance, is a common metabolic disorder during the postpartum transition period in dairy cows. Studies have reported various treatments for ketosis including single or combined use of energy sources (dextrose, propylene glycol, glycerin), New Combination for Ketosis Treatment pharmacological substances (glucocorticoids, insulin, etc.), and nutritional supplements (amino acids, vitamin B, phosphorus, etc.) [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. These treatments have ambiguous or side effects and there is limited evidence to support their continued use. It is unclear whether phosphorus is necessary for treating ketosis [3]
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