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 12 showed a significant reduction of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations compared to their placebo-treated counterparts 78.
* see also our references page