Metabolic Disorders of Transitional Low Production Dairy Cow

The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence of metabolic disorders in periparturient low milk production (＜ 15 kg/d) dairy cows. Data were collected between April 2009 and April 2010 from randomly selected Holstein crossed breed dairy cow and heifer (30 cows and 10 heifers) on faculty farm of faculty of Natural Resources Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Skon-nakon Campus. Blood samples were collected weekly from each cow, starting 2 weeks before expected calving until 4 weeks postpartum. Serum was analyzed for NEFA and BHBA. The critical threshold for [NEFA] was defined as: ＞ 0.4 mmol/L when ＜ -7 to 0 DIM, and ＞ 0.7 mmol/L when ≥ 3 DIM. Postpartum sub-clinical ketosis (SK) was defined using [BHBA] ＞ 14.4 mg/dl. The prevalence of elevated NEFA was 82.5%, 27.5%, 27.5% 7.5% and 7.5% in the dry period, 1st, 2nd 3rd and 5th weeks of lactation, respectively. The prevalence of SK was 12.5% at 2nd weeks of lactation. High prevalence of elevated NEFA during dry period through first 2 weeks of postpartum indicated that periparturient dairy cows suffered some degree of negative energy balance (NEB). These resulted indicated that though, milk yield of these cows were not that high, NEB and ketosis are still major nutrient-related problems.