A field trial on the effect of propylene glycol on milk yield and resolution of ketosis in fresh cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral propylene glycol (PG) administration on ketosis resolution and milk yield in cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis (SCK). Cows from 4 freestall dairy herds (2 in New York and 2 in Wisconsin) were each tested 6 times for SCK from 3 to 16 d in milk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Subclinical ketosis was defined as a β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration of 1.2 to 2.9 mmol/L, [corrected] and clinical ketosis was defined as ≥ 3.0 mmol/L. [corrected]. Cows with SCK were randomized to the treatment group (oral PG) or control group (no PG); treatment cows were drenched with 300 mL of PG once daily from the day they tested 1.2 to 2.9 mmol/L [corrected] until the day they tested <1.2 mmol/L. [corrected]. Outcomes evaluated for all farms included time from SCK until BHBA test <1.2 mmol/L [corrected] or until BHBA test ≥ 3.0 mmol/L. [corrected]. Individual milk weights for the first 30 d of lactation were evaluated for the 3 farms monitoring daily milk. Semiparametric proportional hazards models were used to evaluate time to event outcomes; repeated-measures ANOVA was used to assess milk weights. A total of 741 of 1,717 (43.2%) eligible enrolled cows had at least one BHBA test of 1.2 to 2.9 mmol/L. [corrected]. Of these, 372 were assigned to the treatment group and 369 to the control group. Based on hazard ratios, PG-treated cows were 1.50 times more likely (95% confidence interval=1.26 to 1.79) to resolve their SCK and 0.54 times less likely (95% confidence interval=0.34 to 0.86) to develop clinical ketosis than control cows. Across the 3 herds measuring individual milk weights, treated cows produced 0.23 kg more milk per milking in the first 30 d of lactation than control cows, for a total difference of 0.69 kg/cow per day. After identification of a treatment by herd interaction, stratification by herd showed that treated cows produced more milk per milking on farm A (0.44 kg) and farm B (0.53 kg) in the first 30 d of lactation than control cows, for a total difference of 1.34 and 1.59 kg/d, respectively; milk production did not differ (0.02 kg per milking) between the 2 groups on farm D. These results show the positive effects of oral PG administration in fresh cows with SCK by helping to resolve SCK and preventing clinical ketosis. In addition, oral PG improves milk yield during early lactation in cows diagnosed with SCK.

An Attempt to Prevent Production Diseases in Dairy andad hocTreatment Cows by Intense Monitoring

“…For the NEGATIVE animals the incidence of CK is slightly higher than those reported in the literature (0 to 5%), but for the other groups the incidence is more comparable to that reported for sub-clinical ketosis (20 to 40% or even more) (McArt et al, 2011;2013, Esposito et al, 2014.…”

“…However, NEFA and b-HOB measurements are among the most convenient, as blood b-HOB can also be measured next to the cow by means of small portable devices (Free Style Optium Neo, Abbott Laboratories, CHICA-GO, IL, USA) (Voyvoda and Erdogan, 2010). The threshold values chosen for this study are the same as those used by others (LeBlanc et al, 2005;McArt et al, 2011McArt et al, , 2012McArt et al, , 2013Mulligan et al, 2006). NEFA and b-HOB levels provide two measures of the severity of energy imbalance.…”

“…The idea of compensating a NEB by the daily administration of propylene glycol or glycerol, starting from the last days of gestation and for 2 or 3 weeks after calving, is inconsistently practiced in modern dairy farms although it has already been experimented by various authors (Miettinen, 1995;Formigoni et al, 1996;Hoedemaker et al, 2004;Castañeda-Gutiérrez et al, 2009;Lomander et al, 2012;McArt et al, 2011). In addition to the practical and economic constraints involved, and although propane 1,2-diol is a permitted additive for animal feed in Europe (EU Regulation 892/2010) and in the United States, the adjunction of a non-natural additive to the ration of dairy cows may be questioned.…”

Ketone bodies in blood of dairy cows: Prevalence and monitoring of subclinical ketosis

“…A reasonable goal is to have less than 2 cows per 10 with BHBA above 1.2 mmol·l -1 in the first 2 weeks after calving. McArt et al (2011) reported an overall SCK incidence rate of 42.3% in 1,717 cows in four large commercial herds. Suthar et al (2013) reported 21.8% overall prevalence of SCK in the postpartum period (i.e., blood BHBA ≥ 1.2 mmol·l -1 ) in 10 European countries (5, 884 dairy cows), ranging from 11.2 to 36.6%.…”

Effect of administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin on health and performance of lactating dairy cows diagnosed with hyperketonemia

“…One of the important metabolic problems in early-lactation dairy cows is hyperketonemia. Hyperketonemia in lactating dairy cows is defined as an elevated concentration of ketone bodies in the blood, which may or may not be accompanied by clinical signs (Andersson, 1988;Kelton et al, 1998), but is associated with decreased production and impaired reproduction and health measures (Duffield et al, 2009;Ospina et al, 2010;McArt et al, 2011), resulting in significant economic effects. A lack of gluconeogenic substrates is thought to contribute to hyperketonemia; therefore, many therapies for hyperketonemia target the provision of glucogenic substrates.…”