Concentrations of carnitine and other biochemical parameters in blood serum of normal dairy cows and cows with abomasal displacement (dislocatio abomasi) and puerperal disorders

It was the aim of this study to compare the concentrations of total (TC) and free L-carnitine (FC) in blood serum of different groups of lactating cows. The animals were allotted into three groups, a) control animals (N = 11), b) cows with abomasal displacement (AD) (N = 5) and c) cows with puerperal disorders (PD) (N = 5). TC and FC were measured with an radioenzymatic assay. Blood samples were collected from 5 to 0 d before parturition (a. p.) and from 0 to 28 d after parturition (p. p.). It was of interest to examine whether L-carnitine might be limiting under certain conditions of metabolic stress which are typical for high yielding lactating cows. Concentrations of TC and FC (mumoI/l) in control cows before and after parturition were 10,0* and 8,6* and 6,0-8,9 and 3,7-4,9, respectively. The corresponding TC and FC values for cows with AD were 19,6* and 8,9* and 10,5-20,7 and 4,8-6,9, respectively. Cows with PD showed TC and FC concentrations a. p. and p. p. of 15,7* and 9,2* and 10,3-13,0 and 4,8-6,3, h other puerperal disorders PD respectively (* only one value)

Acid-base-status in rumen fluid and urine in dairy cattle

Objective: Subclinical rumen acidosis is considered a frequent pathologic condition of acid base status in dairy cows. The objectives of the study were to measure parameters of acid base status in simultaneously obtained rumen fluid and urine samples and to evaluate the diagnostic value of urine parameters to predict subclinical rumen acidosis. Material and methods: Rumen fluid samples were obtained using the Geishauser stomach tube from 348 dairy heifers and dairy cows in 10 dairy farms. Simultaneously urine samples were taken by bladder catheterization. The parameters rumen pH, urine pH, and net-acid-base-excretion (NABE) were measured; base/acid-ratio (B/A-ratio) was calculated. Results: The associations between rumen pH and urine pH (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), rumen pH and NABE (r = 0.13, p = 0.018) as well as rumen pH und B/A-ratio (r = 0.13, p = 0.017) were characterized by low correlation coefficients. Values for sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of all parameters of urine acid base status predicting rumen acidosis were also low. Conclusion and clinical relevance: The results of the study indicate that the parameters of urine acid base status are not suitable to estimate the rumen acid base status under field conditions. The diagnosis of rumen acidosis requires the measurement of pH in rumen flui

Carnitine concentrations in blood of high-yielding cows in the peripartal period

In the blood serum of 18 healthy SE cows (yielding 8200 kg FCM/year) total and free carnitine (TC and FC) concentrations were measured to be different ante and post partum. Reference values derived from these data were calculated to be: ante partum TC: 9.0 - 15.0 and FC 7.0 - 12.0; post partum TC: 6.6 - 12.0 and FC 4.0 - 8.5 mu mol/l. In the early stage of lactation carnitine is reduced, but has to be rated differently: in phase 1 carnitine is still sufficiently available and rises with increasing lypolysis. In phase 2, 4 to 12 weeks post partum, carnitine concentration falls below the optimum with the effect that ketogenesis is promoted. In this situation a substitution seems to be successful

Acid-base-status in rumen fluid and urine in dairy cattle

Objective: Subclinical rumen acidosis is considered a frequent pathologic condition of acid base status in dairy cows. The objectives of the study were to measure parameters of acid base status in simultaneously obtained rumen fluid and urine samples and to evaluate the diagnostic value of urine parameters to predict subclinical rumen acidosis. Material and methods: Rumen fluid samples were obtained using the Geishauser stomach tube from 348 dairy heifers and dairy cows in 10 dairy farms. Simultaneously urine samples were taken by bladder catheterization. The parameters rumen pH, urine pH, and net-acid-base-excretion (NABE) were measured; base/acid-ratio (B/A-ratio) was calculated. Results: The associations between rumen pH and urine pH (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), rumen pH and NABE (r = 0.13, p = 0.018) as well as rumen pH und B/A-ratio (r = 0.13, p = 0.017) were characterized by low correlation coefficients. Values for sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of all parameters of urine acid base status predicting rumen acidosis were also low. Conclusion and clinical relevance: The results of the study indicate that the parameters of urine acid base status are not suitable to estimate the rumen acid base status under field conditions. The diagnosis of rumen acidosis requires the measurement of pH in rumen flui

Significance of carnitin in high yielding dairy cows in the peripartal period

The Carnitin concentration underwent slight changes during the period of time as well as within the two farms. The Carnitin concentration before parturition is seriously higher than after parturition. Those cows who suffer from a lack of energy before parturition, signal already within the first four weeks after parturition signs of a disturbed Carnitin supply, which is indicated by the negative correlations between Carnitin and ketone bodies as well as free fatty acids. Cows that will suffer from abomasal displacement as well as puerperal disorders had the highest Carnitin concentration in blood. Acyl Carnitin indicated the slightest strain on the metabolism