Incidence of Subclinical Ketosis in Dairy Cows in Fars Province of Iran and Reproductive Performance in Early Lactetion Period

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 167 cows in 14 holstein crossbreed herds in Fars province of Iran were monitored for subclinical ketosis in a period of calving to 70th day postpartum, weekly from 1th Apr 2008 to 25th Jun 2009. Milk samples were collected and the level of milk ketone bodies was determined qualitatively by the use of rothera nitroprusside milk test. For this, nitroprusside milk test powder was made by mixing of sodium nitroprusside ammonium sulfate and anhydrous sodium bicarbonate in ratio of 1:20:20, respectively (Duffield et al., 1997). The reactions scored as negative and positive.

After putting a pinch of mixed powder on a filter paper, two milk droplets were poured it on. If the level of ketone bodies in milk is more than 2 mg dL^-1 (a cut off for subclinical ketosis), a violet color can be observed (Schutz and Myers, 1959). Milk samples were tested immediately (on farm) after sampling to prevent false negative reactions due to conversion of acetoacetate to acetone (Duffield et al., 1997). Reproductive performance values such as calving to first service interval and calving to conception interval were recorded. Cows with clinical signs of ketosis were culled from statistical population.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The incidence rate of subclinical ketosis was 7.2% (percent of cows with at least one positive test) in early lactation (0-70th day) period and the peak prevalence of subclinical ketosis occurred during the fourth week of lactation (Fig. 1). There was no significant difference between positive and negative groups in reproductive performance values (Table 1).

Most studies have reported the prevalence of hyperketonemia or hyperketolactia rather than subclinical ketosis and the range in reported prevalence will vary according to the definition of hyperketonemia, with lower thresholds yielding a higher prevalence. Prevalence of subclinical ketosis (hyperketonemia or hyperketolactia) in the first two months of lactation range from 8.9 to 34% in various studies (Adler et al., 1957; Dohoo and Martin, 1984; Duffield et al., 1997; Kauppinen, 1983; Nielen et al., 1994; Sakha et al., 2007).

Fig. 1:	Incidence of subclinical ketosis during first 10 weeks

Table 1:	Reproductive performance values in nitroprusside test positive and negative groups

Intensive negative energy balance due to high milk production is one of the most important factors that affect the occurrence of subclinical ketosis (Duffield, 2000). In the present study the lower incidence rate of subclinical ketosis (7.2%), in comparison with other studies; is probably due to genetics and lower milk yield.

The peak prevalence of hyperketonemia is reported that occur between second to fourth week of lactation (Anderson and Emanuelso, 1985; Dohoo and Martin, 1984; Kauppinen, 1983; Simensen et al., 1990). In the present study, the peak incidence has occurred in the fourth week post calving. There is no distinct explain for this variation, although It has been approved that some factors such as genetics and feeding management influence metabolic challenge and peak time (Duffield, 2000).

Increasing the degree of negative energy balance in early lactation has been shown to increase the interval from calving to first ovulation (Butler and Smith, 1989). That cow with a longer interval from calving to first ovulation experience a decrease in pregnancy rate at first service, because conception rate is related to the number of ovulatory cycles that occur prior to insemination (Butler and Smit, 1989; Stevenson and Call, 1983; Whitmore et al., 1974). In the other hand, cows with a longer interval from calving to first ovulation experience a decrease in pregnancy rate at first service. Because of hyperketonemia and subclinical ketosis are signs of disturbed energy metabolism, many authors have investigated the relationship between subclinical ketosis and reproductive performance (Abe et al., 1984; Andersson, 1984; Duffield, 2000) and emphasize that subclinical ketosis increase calving to first service and calving to conception interval, but in this study was not found. In addition to this study, no effect of either subclinical or clinical ketosis on cow fertility was found in two other studies (Anderson and Emanuelson, 1985; Kauppinen, 1984). This maybe because of in Iran (and probably other developing countries) herds fertility management factors are more important and have more share in infertility than subclinical ketosis.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to appreciate Darab brunch, Islamic Azad University for the financial support.