Relationship between post parturition serum b-hydroxy butyric acid concentrations and periparturition diseases in dairy cows: a provincial study in Qom

Background: Negative energy balance (NEB) during first days of calving can cause metabolic and reproductive diseases in dairy cows. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of hyperketonemis and its relationship with periparturient diseases in dairy cows of the Qom province, Iran. Methods: Two hundred and seven cows were being investigated over 2- 4 weeks after parturition in dairy farms of Qom. Serum levels of b-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA) concentrations of blood were measured to evaluate subclinical ketosis. All cows were clinically examined and any diseases which have been occurred during early two months after birth values were analyzed using Chi- square and Mann- Whitney U tests to compare mean values of serum BHBA concentrations in different groups and Pearson test for finding any relationship between groups. Results: Cows showed retained placenta (n= 20, 9.56%), metritis (n= 2, 0.95%), milk fever (n= 3, 1.44%), laminitis (n= 1, 0.47%), clinical ketosis (n= 2, 0.95%), mastitis (n= 3, 1.44%), hepatic lipidosis (n= 1, 0.47%) and left displacement of abomasums (LDA) (n= 2, 0.95%). Parturition number, live bodyweight of newborn calves and previous open days in cows with higher than 1 mmol/L BHBA concentrations, were significantly greater than those cows with BHBA concentration lower than 1 mmol/L (p<0.05). While 55.17% of the cows with higher than 1 mmol/L BHBA concentration showed different post parturition diseases, 6.8% cows with lower than 1mmol/L BHBA concentr-ations have been involved with such diseases. In this respect, two groups showed significant difference (p<0.05). Conclusions: Since periparturient diseases of dairy cows showes significant relationship with hyperketonemia, both condition should be cousidered in veterinary care.