Invited Review: Pathology, Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Fatty Liver in Dairy Cows

Abstract

Fatty liver (i.e., hepatic lipidosis) is a major metabolic disorder of many dairy cows in early lactation and is associated with decreased health status and reproductive performance. In severe cases, milk production and feed intake are decreased. Therefore, a practical preventative or an efficacious treatment of fatty liver could save millions of dollars yearly in treatment, replacement, and production losses for dairy farmers. Fatty liver develops when the hepatic uptake of lipids exceeds the oxidation and secretion of lipids by the liver, which usually is preceded by high concentrations of plasma NEFA mobilized from adipose tissue. Excess lipids are stored as triacylglycerol in the liver and are associated with decreased metabolic functions of the liver. Liver can be categorized into normal liver or mild, moderate, or severe fatty liver; the latter can be subdivided further into nonencephalopathic severe fatty liver and hepatic encephalopathy. Insufficient or unbalanced dietary intake, obesity, and elevated estrogen concentrations are involved in the etiology of fatty liver, which is associated with greater incidence of dystocia, diseases, infections, and inflammations. Because even mild fatty liver is associated with decreased health status and reproductive performance of dairy cows, prevention of fatty liver by supplying cows with sufficient nutrients and a clean and health-promoting environment in the peripartal period would reduce production losses of cows more than would any treatment of fatty liver. This, however, might not be enough for cows that are obese or do not eat well, had calving difficulties or twins, have metabolic or infectious diseases, or are in severe negative energy balance because of high milk production immediately after calving. Potential and commonly used preventatives, as well as treatments, are discussed in the review. Currently, detection of fatty liver is possible only by minor surgery. Ultrasonic techniques offer a potential tool to noninvasively detect fatty liver. Future gene-array and proteomic studies may provide means to detect early molecular events in the etiology of fatty liver plus their connection with immune function and reproductive performance so that more effective treatments and preventatives of fatty liver can be developed. Such advances hopefully will make fatty liver a problem of the past.

Changes in milk performance and hepatic metabolism in mid-lactating dairy goats after being fed a high concentrate diet for 10 weeks

“…The liver controls metabolism and is responsible for nutrient partitioning as well as for supplying energy through gluconeogenesis and FA oxidation (Bobe et al, 2004;Aschenbach et al, 2010;Sejersen et al, 2012). In the present study, the hepatic concentrations of ATP and NAD were significantly increased in the HC group, which may indicate a sufficient energy supply in the liver.…”

Investigation of coagulation and serum biochemistry profiles in dairy cattle with different degrees of fatty liver

“…Albumin and factors associated with clotting reflect the synthetic function of the liver. Due to microscopic cell alterations, particu larly in severe fatty liver, changes in cell integrity and function lead to cell necrosis and cell leakage, followed by increased plasma activities of liver specific enzymes and increased concentrations of bile constituents (Bobe et al, 2004). In cows with LDA, alterations in clotting profiles have been observed and were suspected to be caused by impaired liver function (Irmak and Turgut, 2005;Sobiech et al, 2008).…”

“…Fatty liver is interrelated with other disease, including retained placenta, uterine infection, milk fever, left dis placement of the abomasum (LDA) and mastitis (Ing vartsen, 2006). The incidence of fatty liver is strongly associated with the incidence of displaced abomasum (Bobe et al, 2004) and effects the outcome of LDA treatment (Rehage et al, 1996;Staufenbiel et al, 2007). The diagnosis of fatty liver depends on the assessment of a liver biopsy.…”

“…Fatty liver is a frequent disease of dairy cattle occurring in early lactation (Geishauser, 1995;Bobe et al, 2004). Fatty liver is interrelated with other disease, including retained placenta, uterine infection, milk fever, left dis placement of the abomasum (LDA) and mastitis (Ing vartsen, 2006).…”

The utility of sensor technology to support reproductive management on dairy farms

“…For locomotion, the economic impact of lameness (Bruijnis, et al, 2010, Ettema andØstergaard, 2006) and the effect of preventive measures (Ettema and Østergaard, 2006) have been studied. For metabolism, a lot of research has been conducted on animal nutrition to find the optimal feeding strategy to prevent metabolic problems; for example, fatty liver and negative energy balance (Bobe, et al, 2004, van Knegsel, et al, 2007.…”