Research on metabolic status in periparturient cows

Abstract

In the experiment, hematological and blood biochemical parameters were determined in a batch of 5 cows in the last week of gestation (Group 1) and 5 cows in the first week after calving (Group 2). Cows are clinically healthy and come from a farm where the milk production per fed animal is about 30 liters/day, cows being milked 3 times per day. Hematologic parameters were found within physiological limits, but in both groups the monocytes were found to be low, and in group 1, mild lymphopenia was detected. Investigated blood biochemical parameters allowed to assert that in cows in the last week of gestation, bilirubin was found to be significantly increased when recently-bred cows were within normal limits. In both lots, LDH was found to be significantly increased. Metabolic status also determined the protein fractions by means of electrophoresis: 10 samples were analyzed (Group 3 consisting of 5 cows in the last week of gestation and Group 4 consisting of 5 cows in the first week after calving). The values of the protein fractions were within the physiological limits and the Albumin/Globulin Ratio was found within physiological limits in group 3 and lower in group 4, which confirms gamma globulin reactivation immediately after calving.