Ketosis (acetonaemia) in dairy cattle farms: practical guide based on importance, diagnosis, prevention and treatments

Abstract

Ketosis is an important metabolic disease in dairy cattle which is occurring due to increase of ketone bodies (especially β-hydroxybutyrate) in blood. It is a lactation disorder usually associated with intense milk production and negative energy balance in dairy cattle. Ketosis most times is occurring at the most productive stage of the lactation and makes great financial damages in milk production. In this practical review, incidence and prevalence, etiology, clinical aspects, biochemical findings, diagnosis methods and prevention methods and treatments of ketosis in dairy cattle farms are briefly discussed. Prevalence rate of ketosis is closely related to diet and farm management and also it is identified to be closely related to animal’s genetics. Concentration of serum β-hydroxybutyrate between 1,200-1,400μmol/L is usually threshold for definition of ketosis and clinical (wasting and nervous) and sub-clinical ketosis are two differentially aspects of ketosis in dairy cattle, which are defined according to presence or absence of clinical signs of ketosis in cattle. Prevention of ketosis based on efficient diet, periodic blood, milk and/or urine screening for ketone bodies’ detection, and also body score evaluation in dairy cattle farms are the best methods to early detection of ketosis in animals which can be easily applicable in dairy cattle farms.