Metabolic monitoring in a dairy cow herd

The examination makes it possible to assess the herd’s level of risk for postpartum diseases resulting from improper preparation of cows for calving. Herd metabolic monitoring is based on testing at least seven animals before and after calving.

The test result includes a comparison of the parameters listed below along with their interpretation:

albumin,
AST,
total protein,
inorganic phosphorus,
GGT,
magnesium,
urea,
calcium,
non-esterified fatty acids,
beta-hydroxybutyrate,
fibrinogen,
haptoglobin

Evaluating the above parameters before and after calving makes it possible to effectively detect an increased risk of negative energy balance, retained placenta, ketosis, displaced abomasum, metritis, and inflammation of other organs (e.g., mastitis) after calving.

Other indications for laboratory testing:

periodic testing (e.g., quarterly) of healthy animals to monitor proper metabolic processes and enable early detection of subclinical disorders,
monitoring in risk situations, e.g., after changes in feeding or housing conditions,
testing when health problems or a drop in milk production occur.

Blood collection timing:

before calving: between 14 and 2 days prior to the expected calving date,
after calving: between days 3 and 14 of lactation.

Each evaluated parameter is discussed individually, and an example description of a single parameter is provided below:

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in the examined cows.

Comment: GOT activity in cows before calving is within the normal range. An increase occurs in 42.8% of the animals after calving. All cows with elevated GOT activity also had increased haptoglobin levels, and one cow additionally showed a high NEFA concentration. Since GGT activity is normal in these animals, when analysing the causes of elevated GOT activity, the following should be considered: excessive lipomobilisation (overconditioning before calving, insufficient TMR intake after calving) and the resulting liver load, or other conditions causing the release of GOT from muscle tissue, e.g., retained placenta and/or metritis (muscle tissue shows very high GOT activity).