Hints and Tools

Diagnosis via BHBA measurement in blood

Subclinical ketosis: > 1.2 mmol/l without clinical symptoms
Clinical ketosis: > 3 mmol/l with clinical symptoms

Since the mean duration of SCK is about 5 days cows in risk should be checked at least twice at 5-7 d and 10-14 d p.p. ^{18, 75, 79}

Early detection: Regular check of rumen fill as off 2 weeks before calving

Seen from the rear, the rumen should be bulging
Cows with SCK had fewer visits to the feeder in the weeks prior to calving
Cows with SCK ate less in the week before and 2 weeks after calving

Body Condition Scoring

Dry period: BCS 3.0 – 3.5 (Holstein Friesian cows)
During NEB p.p. they should not drop < 2.5
The BCS Cowdition App is a useful tool to objectively assess, monitor, and manage BCS in individual cows and on herd level

Transition period feeding

Far-off period: An excessive energy supply must be avoided as overconditioned animals – BCS>3.5 – eat less p.p.
Close-up period: Gradual increase of energy and protein content to prepare rumen for concentrate-rich feeding p.p.
Adjustment feeding: stimulation of food intake through
- Gradual, slow increase of energy content
- Providing regularly fresh TMR
- Fibre length fit for short ruminal retention

Prevention and therapy

Drench animals in risk (after difficult calving; retained placenta; milk fever; high starting yields;…) preventively with glucoplastic substances
Minimize oxidative damages by application of vitamin E and selenium
Medicate glucose infusion, application of glucocorticoid and Butaphosphan & Vitamin B12 (according to national registration)

Increasing energy content

Feeding of rumen-protected starch
Feeding fat (> 3 weeks p.p.), total fat 5% of dry substance (up to 7% protected fats)

Improve cow comfort

Lipomobilization is promoted primarily by stress (adrenaline) and a high glucagon:insulin ratio ¹⁵. Stress reduction is an underestimated measure for limiting lipomobilization ⁷⁹. Cows treated with Butaphosphan & Vitamin ¹²showed a significant reduction of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations compared to their placebo-treated counterparts ⁷⁸.