On-farm determination of beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) with an accurate analyser is important for rapid diagnosis of subclinical ketosis (SCK) or clinical ketosis in dairy cows. The accuracy of the Taidoc BHBA portable analyser has not yet been tested and validated. To validate the Taidoc BHBA analyser with another device Wellion (already validated) in 84 dairy cows. Whole blood was collected from the coccygeal vein and immediately analysed with Taidoc and Wellion in one drop of whole venous blood of 84 dairy cows. The averages of BHBA concentration were 0.79±0.66 and 1.09±0.51 mmol/L for Wellion and Taidoc, respectively. The correlation coefficient was r=0.64 (p

Background: The incidence of subclinical hypocalcemia (iSCH) based on blood ionized calcium (iCa < 1.00 mmol/L) has not been investigated in Holsteins fed an anionic diet (AD) and non-AD prepartum and treated or not treated with calcium bolus (CB) around the time of calving. Hypothesis: Anionic diets supported with CB at 12 h after calving should increase iCa and reduce iSCH better than AD + non-CB and non-AD + CB. Animals: One hundred Holsteins were allocated to 4 groups: Group 1 (AD + CB), group 2 (AD + non-CB), group 3 (non-AD + CB) and group 4 (non-AD and non-CB). Methods: The animals were randomly selected according to calving order. The iCa and iSCH were analyzed at calving before CB application on postpartum days (PPD) 1, 3, and 10. Urine pH was analyzed at calving and PPD1. Results: Urine pH (6.43 ± 0.26), iCa (0.90 ± 0.16 mmol/L) and iSCH (50%) were significantly different in the combined AD groups compared to the non-AD groups at calving. Multiparous cows in combined AD groups had higher iCa and lower iSCH at calving. Group 1 had a higher iCa than groups 3 and 4. Group 2 had a higher iCa than Group 4 at PPD3. The iSCH of group 1 at PPD3 and 10 was lower than that of other groups. The iSCH decreased from 50% (PPD1) to 17% (PPD3) and 4% (PPD10) in group 1. Group 4 showed milk fever of 12%, 4%, and 4% at PPD1, 3, and 9, respectively. Conclusion: Group 1 was the most appropriate protocol to increase iCa, reduce iSCH, and prevent milk fever.

Forty-four holstein dairy cows were randomly enrolled in the treatment group (group 1, n=19) or control group (group 2, n=25) at calving. Group 1 received prophylactic propylene glycol treatment (PPGT) (300 ml/cow, beginning at calving, total 3 days). The group 2 remained untreated. All animals were tested on blood and milk beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) at postpartum week 2 and 4 (PW2 and 4), body condition scores (BCS), average daily milk production (ADMP) and postpartum health disorders were monitored in 90 days in milk (90 DIM). The incidence of subclinical ketosis (SCK) was 8% and 4% in blood test (BHBA≥1.2 mmol/L) and by 12% and 24% in milk test (BHBA≥200 µmol/L) in group 2 at PW2 and PW4 respectively. SCK was not detected in group 1. The study cows lost BCS on postpartum days 30 and 60. ADMP was significantly different (P

A total of 300 dairy cows were randomly enrolled from 11 dairy farms in Turkey. The beta-hydroxybutyric acid concentration (BAC) was tested in the blood (BBAC) and individual milk (MBAC) samples at postpartum week 2 (PPW2) and week 4 (PPW4) for the detection of subclinical ketosis (SCK) in Holstein, Montbeliard, Simmental and Holstein-Crossbred (HC; only BBAC). The prevalence of BSCK (BBAC ≥ 1.2 mmol/L), MSCK1 (MBAC = 100 µmol/L), MSCK2 (MBAC ≥ 200 µmol/L) and MSCK1/2 (≥ 100 µmol/L) was 8.3, 11.8, 5.8 and 17.3% at PPW2 and 4.7, 4.9, 6.9 and 11.9% at PPW4 in Holstein respectively. SCK was not observed in Simmental and HC. The prevalence of BSCK and MSCK1 at PPW2 were 4.3 and 43.5% in Montbeliard respectively. Primiparous Montbeliard and Holstein had significantly higher MBAC at PPW2 than PPW4. Overall, HC and Montbeliard had significantly lower BBAC. Cows having body condition scores 2 and 4 at calving had higher MBAC at PPW2 and 4 that was associated significantly with metritis and multiple diseases. Holstein with BCS4 at calving had higher BBAC at PPW2 and 4. Holstein with SCK was more likely to develop postpartum metabolic health disorders (PPHD) in 90 days in milk (90DIM). MSCK1 did not associate milk production loss in Montbeliard and Holstein. Holstein with both BSCK and MSCK2 at PPW2 had a 6.7 kg average daily milk yield loss in 90DIM. Conclusively, SCK was not observed in Simmental and HC, and MSCK1 didn’t cause PPHD and milk yield loss in Montbeliard. BSCK and MSCK2 created a significant risk for PPHD and milk production loss in Holstein.

The present study analyzed the transformation of dairy cattle population and changes in yearly milk production and per lactation milk yield (1991 – 2019) in Turkey. In addition, metabolic and reproductive diseases frequently seen in high milk yielding dairy cows (HYDC) and problems causing low milk yield were investigated. The number of dairy cows, culled and sent to slaughter was investigated for the last three years in Turkey. On the other side, the cost of the most common metabolic diseases by region has been analyzed by a phone survey (40 vets were asked in different regions). The dairy cow population was 6118997 in 1991 (HYDC pure breed: 10.6% and traditional indigenous dairy breed: 55.3%). The dairy cow population reached 6580753 in 2019 (7.5 % increase compared to 1991) which consisted of pure breed HYDC of 49.4% and traditional dairy breed of 8.9%. This is a transformation in dairy cattle population in 28 years. Yearly total milk production increased by 141.2% from 8.616.412 tons (1991) to 20782374 tons (2019). Yearly milk production per lactation/cow increased from 1.4 tons (1991), to 1.65 tons (2000) and to 3.16 tons (2019) which means 17.5% and 124.3% increase, respectively. The growth of the number of HYDC pure breed and their total yearly milk production was 399.3% (650739 – 3249002) and 555.6% (1913438 tons to 12544507 tons) in 28 years, respectively. Numerous metabolic and reproductive diseases can often be observed in HYDCs due to genetic reasons as well as nutritional and maintenance mistakes during the transition and dry period which can cause economic loss related to milk yield and metabolic diseases. The treatment cost of the metabolic or reproductive diseases for the farmers was between 150-1200 TL per case. Many of the animals were sent to compulsory slaughter and culled because of these diseases. Indeed, a total of 738681 dairy cows have been sent to slaughter throughout the last three years.