Metabolic Profiling And Health Risk In Transition Cows

Abstract

Blood chemistry analyses are frequently used by veterinarians for disease diagnosis. Use of blood chemistries in the form of metabolic profiles to determine nutritional status has been advocated, but acceptance has been limited as a result of high cost and interpretation difficulties. Different criteria are needed using blood metabolite concentrations to determine disease potential compared to disease diagnosis. Blood metabolite measures are compared to laboratory-defined reference ranges, however, these reference ranges often are based on mid-to-late lactation cow populations and may not be appropriate for evaluating transition cows. Objectives of this study were to determine effects of time relative to calving and health status on blood metabolite concentrations and determine if any diagnostic relationships are present between prepartum blood metabolite concentrations and postpartum health status.