Vol. 12, Special Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Enbavelan PA, Kavitha S, Annal Villi R, Vairamuthu S and Selvaraj P

Abstract:
Sub-Clinical Ketosis is a common metabolic disorder frequently observed in dairy cows during the early lactation period. After calving, the milk production of dairy cows increases rapidly, but the nutrient intake cannot meet the demand for milk production, forming a negative energy balance (NEB). The NEB leads to a large amount of body fat mobilization and consequently the elevated production of ketones, which have an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases such as Sub-clinical ketosis, Clinical ketosis and fatty liver. Subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cattle is an excess level of circulating ketone bodies in the absence of clinical signs of ketosis. Calved animals (0^th, 15^th, 30^th, 45^th and 60^th day) from organised and unorganised dairy farms of villages in and around Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu from the period February 2021 to May 2023 total 211 post-partum dairy animals were subjected to determination of blood beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) level by means of a portable blood ketone and glucose monitoring system, qualitative urinalysis using urine dip stick and milk BHB dip stick and Milk Fat: Protein ratio by inline milk analyser. Usually, detection of SCK is carried out by testing the ketone concentrations in blood, urine, and milk. SCK is the pre-clinical form of ketosis, if animals are in clinical ketosis even though successful treatment for clinical ketosis carried out after recovery not able to bring the animal to normal production. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the rapid and reliable cow side test for early detection of subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cows of early lactation period and to determine the association of onset of SCK by blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration (Ketometer), BHB in milk, Fat: Protein ratio, Acetoacetate in urine and glucometer. Those animals with beta hydroxybutyric acid level by bovine specific ketometer Quick Vet RAPID (Ubio Biotechnology Systems Pvt. Ltd., Kochi) is between > 1.2 mmol/L and < 1.4 mmol/L were classified as sub clinical ketosis and high prevalence was noticed on 15^th day of lactation 50.70% (36/71) followed by 30^th day 38.02% (27/71) followed by 45^th day 7% (5/71), 0^th day 2.8% (2/71) and 60^th day 1.4% (1/71).