Open AccessSurvey of ketolactia, determining the main predisposing management factors and consequences in Hungarian dairy herds by using a cow‐side milk test
Author(s) -
Hejel Péter,
Zechner Gerhard,
Csorba Csaba,
Könyves László
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary record open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.504
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2052-6113
pISSN - 2399-2050
DOI - 10.1136/vetreco-2017-000253
Subject(s) - herd , ketosis , mastitis , zoology , medicine , retained placenta , ice calving , lactation , veterinary medicine , pregnancy , biology , placenta , endocrinology , fetus , genetics , pathology , diabetes mellitus
The aims of the survey were to determine the prevalence of ketosis in dairy herds by measuring the concentration of beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) in milk by Keto‐Test (Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Nagoya, Japan); risk factors and the relationship with postpartum diseases were investigated. 1667 early lactating (days in milk 0–75) cows were tested in 52 dairy herds in 2013 and 2014 years. In total, 29.3 per cent of samples were positive (BHBA MILK ≥100 µmol/l), including 3.7 per cent high positives (BHBA MILK ≥500 µmol/l). The prevalence was similar in herds with less than or more than 9000 kg milk yield (0.34 and 0.38, respectively, P=0.4); however, it was higher in the herds with more than 1000 cows than in smaller herds (<500 and 500–1000 cows) (0.46, P=0.03). The BHBA level in milk was in a non‐linear positive relationship with parity (P=0.01), associated with retained placenta (P=0.0006), mastitis (P=0.02) and clinical ketosis (P<0.001). The results confirm the high prevalence of ketolactia in Hungarian dairy herds and its links to herd‐related and cow‐related risk factors and diseases occurring commonly in fresh cows.