Correlation of some blood biochemicals with ketone bodies in normal and sub-clinical ketotic bovines

Abstract

The profile of metabolic parameters, viz. ketone bodies, glucose, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, lactate, plasma total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride) were estimated in the blood and sera samples of 40 cows and buffaloes during sub-clinical ketosis. In the impending sub-clinical ketotic cows the blood glucose and plasma TVFA were negatively correlated, whereas, blood lactate was positively correlated with the blood ketone levels. In buffaloes, though, the trend was same but at lower ebbs. The anorexic cows with poor milk yield and blood values of glucose less than 35 mg/dl, lactate more than 10.0 mg/dl, plasma TVFA lesser than 35.0 meq/litre and blood ketones more than 8.0 mg/dl were considered as impending sub-clinical ketosis. The corresponding values for sub-clinical ketotic buffaloes were similar to that for cows except slightly higher blood glucose.