Hyperketonemia in early lactation dairy cows: the effects of body condition and starch content of the diet

Abstract

Hyperketonemia is one of the most occurring metabolic disorders seen on dairy farms, with major costs due to decreased fertility, higher veterinary costs and premature culling. Cows suffer mostly from hyperketonemia during early lactation. This is due to the high demand of energy to produce milk, which cannot be met by the energy intake. This results in the upregulation of lipolysis. The enormous mobilization of fat exceeds the livers capacity for processing it, resulting in high levels of ketone bodies. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the body condition score and the starch content of the diets given during the dry and lactation period on the herd severity of hyperketonemia in the first month post-partum. The effects of some other dietary characteristics are also evaluated. Therefore, 37 farms were visited in the “Vijfheerenlanden” and “Ablasserwaard” region. 238 cows in the first month of lactation were tested once on the severity of hyperketonemia using a X-Ceed precision device, which measures the β-hydroxybutyric acid concentration in blood. A higher amount of concentrates fed on day 21 of lactation influences the severity of hyperketonemia positively. The total energy intake of the close-up cows is also in relation with the concentration of ketone bodies found in blood. A more energy dense diet in the close-up period results in higher ketone body concentrations in blood. The body condition score and the starch content of the dry period and lactation diets were not significantly related with the severity of hyperketonemia at a herd level. However, the starch content of the diet should influence the severity of hyperketonemia based on its biological function as a glucogenic precursor. Further research needs to be done to evaluate the effect of starch on the severity of hyperketonemia.