ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to while buffaloes in fi rst parity were least affected by the two conditions. The prevalence of both conditions was higher in organised dairy farms than the unorganised dairy units. Of the diagnostic tests utilised for SCH, estimation of serum calcium levels was found superior to the Sulkowitch test while for SCK, estimation of blood ketones was found superior to Rothera&apos;s test and the urine dip stick test

K S Sai

K S Sai Krishna

K Suresh

Krishna

Makkena Sreenu

N Syaama Sundar

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Buffalo Bulletin (March 2014) Vol.33 No.1
107
ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to 
study the prevalence of subclinical hypocalcaemia 
and subclinical ketosis in buffaloes. Out of 166 
buffaloes screened, 61 (36.75%) and 42 (25.30%) 
buffaloes were found to be positive for SCH and 
SCK, respectively. Month wise analysis revealed 
higher prevalence of SCH and SCK in October 
and November, respectively (i.e., rainy season and 
winter season) while the lowest was recorded in the 
months of May and June for SCH and for SCK (i.e.. 
April, May and June: the summer season). Lactation 
wise highest prevalence was recorded in third and 
fourth lactations for SCH and SCK respectively, 
while buffaloes in fi rst parity were least affected 
by the two conditions. The prevalence of both 
conditions was higher in organised dairy farms 
than the unorganised dairy units. Of the diagnostic 
tests utilised for SCH, estimation of serum calcium 
levels was found superior to the Sulkowitch test 
while for SCK, estimation of blood ketones was 
found superior to Rothera’s test and the urine dip 
stick test. 
Keywords: prevalence, subclinical hypocalcaemia, 
subclinical ketosis
INTRODUCTION
Subclinical hypocalcaemia is a condition 
in which there are no evident clinical signs but 
mild inappetence, hypogalactia (Samad, 1999) 
and reduced smooth muscle function (Houe et al., 
2001). Subclinical ketosis was defi ned as elevated 
concentrations of circulating ketone bodies 
without exhibiting clinical signs (Anderson, 1988). 
Occurrence of these conditions is common during 
early part of lactation especially within fi rst two 
months (Huber et al., 1981; Grohn et al., 1983 
and Marjan and Saman, 2011). Their diagnosis is 
diffi cult under farm conditions and if left unnoticed 
will result in huge economic losses to the farmer 
(David, 1982). The present study was undertaken 
to determine the prevalence of subclinical 
hypocalcaemia and subclinical ketosis in buffaloes 
in and around Gannavaram.
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 Buffaloes within the fi rst two months 
of parturition, with symptoms of hypogalactia, 
inappetence and no rise in temperature presented 
to the teaching veterinary clinical complex at 
Gannavaram, private dairy farms and veterinary 
dispensaries in and around Gannavaram were 
PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOCALCAEMIA 
AND SUBCLINICAL KETOSIS IN BUFFALOES
K.S. Sai Krishna*, K. Suresh, Makkena Sreenu and N. Syaama Sundar
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, NTR College of Veterinary Science, 
Gannavaram - 521101, India, *E-mail: vetdoc04@gmail.com
Original Article
Buffalo Bulletin (March 2014) Vol.33 No.1
108
selected for the study. The study period was from 
September 2010 to August 2011. The procedure 
included collection of history in relation to number 
of lactation, season, month and type of dairy sector. 
Diagnosis of SCH was done by utilising the urine 
Sulkowitch test and estimation of serum calcium 
level while for SCK Rothera’s test, urine dipsticks 
and blood ketone level were employed.  
RESULTS
Out of 166 buffaloes screened 61 (36.75%) 
and 42 (25.30%) were found to be positive for SCH 
and SCK, respectively. The overall prevalence 
of SCH in the present study was lower when 
compared with the earlier reports of Oetzel (1996) 
and Goff (2008) who reported an incidence of 
39 and 50 percent, respectively. which might 
be due to good quality fodder and rations along 
with high awareness of the owners about the 
metabolic disorders. The present fi ndings of SCK 
are in partial accordance with those of Emery et 
al. (1964), Kauppinen (1983) and Anantwar and 
Singh (1994) who reported prevalences of 50, 34 
and 66 percent, respectively. The lower prevalence 
of SCK in the current study can be attributed to 
the better managemental practices and nutritional 
supplement when compared with those of earlier 
reports. The prevalence of SCK in the present 
fi ndings was higher when compared to the reports 
made by Dohoo et al. (1983) (9.6%) and Lindstrom 
et al. (1984) (11.5%). These reports indicate their 
better managemental practices compared to those 
in the current study.
In relation to month, the highest and lowest 
prevalence of SCH were recorded during October 
(19.67%) and May and June (1.64%) whereas for 
SCK, the highest prevalence was recorded during 
November (16.67%) while the lowest prevalence 
was in the months of April, May and June (2.39%), 
respectively. The highest prevalences of SCH and 
SCK were noticed during rainy season (57.38% 
and 54.76%) followed by winter season (32.78% 
and 33.33%) while the lowest was recorded in the 
summer season (9.94% and 11.91%) respectively. 
That the highest prevalences of SCH and SCK 
were recorded during the months of October and 
November might be due to reasons like the greater 
number of calvings that occur in these months and 
also attainment of peak lactation stage by animals 
that were calved 6-8 weeks earlier and so became 
more susceptible for these conditions. The lowest 
incidence of these conditions in the months of April, 
May and June can be attributed to the decreased 
number of calvings and also less productivity of 
the buffaloes during this period.
Buffaloes in their third lactation (36.07%) 
were most affected by SCH followed by those 
in their fourth (34.42%), and second (19.67%) 
with a lower prevalence (9.84%) among those in 
their fi rst lactation . In relation to lactation, SCK 
was recorded highest during the fourth lactation 
(33.33%) followed by the third (30.95%), the 
second (26.19%) with the lowest prevalence 
evident during fi rst lactation (9.52%). The reason 
for the highest percent prevalence of SCH and 
SCK in the third and fourth lactations might 
be due to the fact that the animals in their third 
and fourth lactations might have attained their 
maximum productivity as determined genetically 
and were unable to withstand the pressures arising 
from high nutrition demands and thus were more 
prone to production diseases (Thirunavukkarasu 
et al., 2010). Moreover, as the age of the animal 
increases, its adaptability by calcium homeostatic 
mechanism decreases leading to increased 
prevalence of subclinical hypocalcaemia. The 
Buffalo Bulletin (March 2014) Vol.33 No.1
109
results were in agreement with Timothy et al. 
(2011). Among the known positives with SCH and 
SCK buffaloes in organised dairy units (57.38% 
and 59.52%) were more affected when compared 
with the unorganised sector (42.62% and 40.48%). 
The higher prevalence in well-organised dairy 
farms can be attributed to the selection of animals 
having very high genetic potentials regarding their 
productivity when compared with the unorganised 
dairy units. The lower prevalence recorded in 
unorganised dairy animals could be attributed to 
the presence of nondescriptive /native breeds with 
lower production potential. 
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PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOCALCAEMIA and subclinical ketosis in buffaloes

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PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL HYPOCALCAEMIA and subclinical ketosis in buffaloes

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