Prevalence of subclinical ketosis and relationships with postpartum diseases in European dairy cows

Abstract

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is defined as concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) ≥ 1.2 to 1.4 mmol/L and it is considered a gateway condition for other metabolic and infectious disorders such as metritis, mastitis, clinical ketosis, and displaced abomasum. Reported prevalence rates range from 6.9 to 43% in the first 2 mo of lactation. However, there is a dearth of information on prevalence rates considering the diversity of European dairy farms. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine prevalence of SCK, (2) identify thresholds of BHBA, and (3) study their relationships with postpartum metritis, clinical ketosis, displaced abomasum, lameness, and mastitis in European dairy farms. From May to October 2011, a convenience sample of 528 dairy herds from Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey was studied. β-Hydroxybutyrate levels were measured in 5,884 cows with a handheld meter within 2 to 15 d in milk (DIM). On average, 11 cows were enrolled per farm and relevant information (e.g., DIM, postpartum diseases, herd size) was recorded. Using receiver operator characteristic curve analyses, blood BHBA thresholds were determined for the occurrence of metritis, mastitis, clinical ketosis, displaced abomasum, and lameness. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were built for each disease, considering cow as the experimental unit and herd as a random effect. Overall prevalence of SCK (i.e., blood BHBA ≥ 1.2 mmol/L) within 10 countries was 21.8%, ranging from 11.2 to 36.6%. Cows with SCK had 1.5, 9.5, and 5.0 times greater odds of developing metritis, clinical ketosis, and displaced abomasum, respectively. Multivariate binary logistic regression models demonstrated that cows with blood BHBA levels of ≥ 1.4, ≥ 1.1 and ≥ 1.7 mmol/L during 2 to 15 DIM had 1.7, 10.5, and 6.9 times greater odds of developing metritis, clinical ketosis, and displaced abomasum, respectively, compared with cows with lower BHBA blood levels. Interestingly, a postpartum blood BHBA threshold ≥ 1.1 mmol/L increased the odds for lameness in dairy cows 1.8 (95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 2.5) times. Overall, prevalence of SCK was high between 2 to 15 DIM and SCK increased the odds of metritis, clinical ketosis, lameness, and displaced abomasum in European dairy herds.

Serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and lipid metabolism parameters changes in different production cycle periods of Holstein-Friesian, Polish Red and Norwegian breeds

“…Subclinical ketosis is suspected when the serum BHB concentrations exceed 1.2 mmol/l according to some authors (Leblanc 2010, Suthar et al 2013, or 1.4 mmol/l according to others (Raboisson et al 2014). After calving in Holstein-Friesian and Polish Red cows, BHB levels significantly increased but their values seems to confirm no negative energy balance.…”

Prevalence of metabolic disorders and effect on subsequent daily milk quantity and quality in Holstein cows

“…Mulligan and Doherty (2008) defined the period 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving as the critical period associated with a peak incidence of metabolic and nutritional disorders or infectious diseases. These disorders and diseases have been generally associated with increased un-planned culling, which leads to financial loses (Fetrow et al, 2006) by increasing diagnosis and treatment costs and decreasing milk yield and reproductive performance in a dairy herd (Suthar et al, 2013). Due to a negative energy balance at the beginning of lactation, the milk fat content tends to increase, while the milk protein content tends to decrease, which makes the F /P ratio a good indicator in metabolic disorder detection.…”

Subklinik Ketosisli Süt İneklerinde Farklı Dozlarda Butafosfan ve Siyanokobalamin Kombinasyonunun Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi

“…In other studies, injection of vitamin B12 [15] alone or in combination with butaphosphan [12] improved lactation yield. Cows with the high blood BHBA concentration between 2 and 15 day in milk (DIM) are more likely to reduce the first service conception rate and to yield less milk in the first 30 DIM [16] and to increase the odds of metritis, clinical ketosis, lameness and displaced abomasum [17] . Several reports indicate that this product had more likely positive effect to reduce blood BHBA concentration and to improve milk yield and general health status in animals suffering from SCK [18][19][20] .…”