Numerous adjunct therapeutic agents have been investigated for the treatment or control of fat mobilization syndrome in periparturient dairy cows. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of multiple i.v. injections of 10% butaphosphan and 0.005% cyanocobalamin combination (Catosal, Bayer Animal Health, Leverkusen, Germany) between 1 and 2 wk antepartum (a.p.) on the metabolism and health of dairy cows. Forty-five late-gestation Holstein-Friesian cows (second pregnancy) were allocated randomly to 1 of 3 groups with 15 cows/group: group C6 (6 daily i.v. injections of butaphosphan at 10 mg/kg of body weight (BW) and cyanocobalamin at 5 microg/kg of BW in the last 2 wk of gestation); group C3 (3 daily i.v. injections of butaphosphan at 10 mg/kg of BW and cyanocobalamin at 5 microg/kg of BW in the last week of gestation); and group C0 (equivolume daily i.v. injections of 0.9% NaCl solution). Serum biochemical analysis was performed on jugular venous blood samples that were periodically obtained a.p. and postpartum (p.p.). Health status and milk production were monitored p.p. Serum cyanocobalamin concentration increased in groups C6 and C3 p.p. Multiple daily i.v. injections of Catosal before parturition increased p.p. glucose availability, as evaluated by p.p. serum glucose concentration, and decreased peripheral fat mobilization and ketone body formation, as evaluated by p.p. serum nonesterified fatty acid and beta-OH butyrate concentrations. The number of puerperal infections in the first 5 d after calving was decreased in group C6, relative to group C0. We conclude that multiple injections of Catosal during the close-up period have a beneficial effect on the metabolism of periparturient dairy cows. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that high-producing dairy cows in early lactation may have a relative or actual deficiency of cyanocobalamin.

A change in urine SID, [NH(4)(+)], PCO(2), or [PO(4)] independently and directly led to a change in urine pH. Urinary [K(+)] had the greatest effect on urine pH in cattle, with high urine [K(+)] resulting in alkaline urine and low urine [K(+)] resulting in acidic urine. Urine pH provided an accurate assessment of NAE in cattle when pH was > 6.3.

The aim of the study was to prove a correlation between creatine kinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2.) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; EC 2.6.1.1.) activities in serum and the severity of endometritis. We (i) determined clinical and clinical-chemical (CK, AST, bilirubin) parameters on 87 cows with abomasal displacement (DA), (ii) measured CK, AST and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH; EC 1.4.1.2.) in serum and uterine tissue samples in 10 slaughter cows, and (iii) compared the serum reaction (CK, AST, bilirubin) of six healthy, non-pregnant cows after an inter-auterine application of a mild irritating 0.2% peroxyacetic acid (Uterofertil) with that of four healthy cows after an intrauterine application of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Uterine tissue contains high activities of CK (2940 +/- 1140 U/g protein) and AST (159 +/- 25 U/g protein). Cows with DA have increased serum CK and AST activities, which correlate with the degree of endometritis. The DA without endometritis also comes along with slightly increased CK (quartiles 181, 259 and 288 U/l) and AST (101, 138 and 199 U/l) activities. In pregnant cows these activities are higher than in non-pregnant cows. Irritation of the uterus with Uterofertil leads to increased serum CK but not AST. After the exclusion of evaluated CK as a result of muscular damage or hypocalcaemia, this enzyme can be used as a screening parameter in the diagnosis of endometritis. In each clinical case it is necessary to determine if increased AST activities are muscle-, liver- or uterus-dependent.

The object of the present study was to determine the influence of different zeolite A doses on dry matter intake (DMI) and mineral metabolism, and to evaluate an optimum dosage for preventing hypocalcaemia. Eighty pregnant dry cows were assigned to four groups (I-IV). They were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) ad libitum. Groups II, III and IV received an average daily dose of 12, 23 and 43 g zeolite A/kg DM for the last 2 weeks prepartum. Individually DMI was recorded daily. Blood and urine samples were taken before, during and after zeolite A supplementation. Serum was analysed for Ca, Mg, P(i), K, non-esterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Urine was analysed for Ca, Mg, P(i), K and net acid-base excretion (NABE). After calving, milk yield (fat corrected milk) and milk composition were determined. During zeolite A supplementation, mean DMI of Group IV (7.3 +/- 1.3 kg/cow/day) was significantly lower compared to Groups I-III (10.1, 10.9, 9.5 kg/cow/day). The reduced feed intake of Group IV resulted in significantly increased BHB as well as decreased NABE after calving. Zeolite A supplementation in higher doses (III and IV) had a stabilizing effect on Ca metabolism around calving for older cows, whereas cows in Groups I and II showed a subclinical hypocalcaemia. The mean serum Mg concentration decreased significantly in older cows in Group IV at calving. The mean P(i) concentration in cows of Group IV decreased into ranges of hypophosphataemia already 1 week after beginning of zeolite A feeding. The mean DMI postpartum as well as the milk yield was not affected by zeolite A supplementation. Feeding of 23 g zeolite A/kg DM TMR prepartum proved to be an adequate dosage for reducing subclinical hypocalcaemia frequency without significant effects on feed intake and P(i) concentration in serum.

Background: Peritoneal fluid analysis in cattle traditionally includes the classic parameters despite the fact that they have only moderate diagnostic accuracy and often fail to identify the pathogenesis or etiological factors. Therefore additional parameters recently have been established to improve diagnostic precision. In a recent study, reference ranges for several of these parameters have been proposed in dairy cows.Hypothesis/Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to assess the diagnostic value of D-Dimer and other measurements of peritoneal fluid analysis in dairy cows with peritonitis.Animals: The study included 110 Holstein-Friesian cows grouped into cows with peritonitis (n 5 47) and cows without peritonitis (n 5 63).Methods: Peritoneal fluid was obtained by abdominocentesis. Total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, fibrinogen, Llactate, D-Dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase, white blood cell, and red blood cell were determined in peritoneal fluid and venous blood. Serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) and ratios of peritoneal fluid-venous blood were calculated. Sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) were calculated and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis performed.Results: Peritoneal fluid D-Dimer was most accurate in diagnosing peritonitis in cows (SN and SP495.0%). Total protein concentration, LDH and LDH ratio, and SAAG had sensitivities between 49.0 and 67.1%, and specificities between 88.4 and 95.5%. A low-peritoneal fluid glucose concentration was found to be highly indicative of septic peritonitis.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Measurement of the recently introduced parameters may increase the diagnostic value of peritoneal fluid analysis and provide additional specific information. Therefore these measurements should be included in the routine procedure.