A Field Trial on the Effect of Propylene Glycol on Milk Yield and Resolution of Ketosis in Fresh Cows Diagnosed with Subclinical Ketosis

Abstract

Subclinical ketosis (SCK), a metabolic disorder that can affect more than half the cows in a herd, occurs in early lactation when dairy cows are unable to adapt to the changing energy requirements necessary for substantial milk production. While propylene glycol (PG) has long been used to treat clinical ketosis, its effect on SCK has not been studied, due in part to the monitoring necessary to diagnose the disorder. The recent identification and validation of the Precision Xtra meter (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL), a rapid, accurate, and relatively inexpensive cow-side test for SCK, eases many of the previous difficulties associated with intensive monitoring programs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral PG administration on resolution of SCK, prevention of clinical ketosis, and milk yield in cows diagnosed with SCK.