Subclinical Ketosis in Dairy Herds: Impact of Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

Clinical and subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cows occurs during the lactation period frequently in many herds, causing a reduction in milk yield and alterations in milk quality with significant economic losses for farmers. SCK is defined as a preclinical stage of ketosis characterized by an elevated ketone body level without clinical signs. Often many cows develop an elevated ketone body level during the first weeks of lactation even though it never goes up to a critical point causing clinical signs. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SCK in Sicily and assess the effect of a treatment with propylene glycol (PG) to control the SCK, thus, reducing the negative effect on milk quality yield. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 22 farms located south-east of Sicily and 1,588 cows in lactation. A total of 3,989 individual milk samples were collected from calving to 80 subsequently days to check the β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) values in order to establish the SCK status by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Moreover, the contents of fat, protein, lactose, casein, urea, somatic cell count and acetone were evaluated to identify a correlation between SCK and milk quality. A total of 1,100 cows showed BHB values higher than 0.10 mmol/L. These cows were considered SCK positive, were separated from the rest of the herd, and treated with PG (400 g/head per day), all SCK cows were treated with PG and cows without SCK were not treated. The results showed a prevalence of 41.5% of SCK-positive cows during the first 9 days of lactation. The comparison among the cure rate of treated cows shows that the treatment was most effective in the first 7 days of lactation (76.5% of treated cows) than in the following days. PG positively influenced the milk quality parameters, except for the fat proportion. Moreover, the animals treated with PG showed also an increase in milk yield, supporting the economical sustainability of treatment.

Epidemiological Features of Postpartum Subclinical Ketosis in Dairy Herds in Hokkaido, Japan

“…The chi-square test was used to compare categorical data (BCS, RFS, parity, housing system, feeding system, and feeding frequency). When significance was calculated to be present by the chi-square test, adjusted residuals below −1.96 were rated as significantly low frequency of occurrence and above +1.96 as significantly high frequency of occurrence [ 19 ].…”

“…The chi-square test was used, and statistically significant differences were assessed at p < 0.05. Capital letters indicate a significantly higher frequency of SCK, and lower-case letters indicate a significantly lower one [ 19 ].…”

The Most Important Metabolic Diseases in Dairy Cattle during the Transition Period

“…Animals may emit a smell of acetone, especially in their breath and milk, which is also bitter in taste. In severe cases, the entire herd may have an acetone odor [ 89 ]. These symptoms result from an increase in ketone concentration in the blood, rumen contents, and urine.…”

Alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolites contribute to metabolic maladaptation in dairy cows during the development of hyperketonemia

“…The rising prevalence of metabolic diseases, such as ketosis, milk fever, and fatty liver, seriously limits the production and shortens the lifespan of livestock ( 1 , 2 ). In particular, recent studies report a high prevalence and incidence of metabolic diseases in dairy cows, and approximately one-third to one-half of early lactation dairy cows are diagnosed with ketosis ( 1 , 3 , 4 ). Hyperketonemia or ketosis is a physiology condition characterized by the elevation of circulating ketones, including acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and acetone ( 5 ), which is diagnosed in dairy cows according to a blood concentration of BHB ≥1.2 mmol/L ( 6 , 7 ).…”