Calcium and b-hydroxybutyrate serum concentrations in early postpartum of Jersey cows

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to determine serum [Ca2+], â-hydroxybutyrate in blood, milk and urine during peripartum and urinary pH. Ninety Jersey cows were selected during their last month of pregnancy. Five days before calving, at calving and 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after calving blood samples were taken. Ca2+, and â-hydroxybutyrate (â-HB) in blood serum, milk and urine were determined. Correlations and one-way ANOVA were used for the analyses. Calcium and glucose (mmolL-1) decreased throughout the peripartum: Ca2+ [2.65 to 2.31±0.11 (p less than 0.05)]; glucose [3.74 to 3.11±0.26 (p le3ss than 0.05)]. NEFA, blood â-HB, urine â-HB and milk â-HB (mmolL-1) increased over time: NEFA [0.36 to 0.45±0.05 (p less than 0.05)]; blood â-HB [0.69 to 1.29±0.07 (p less than 0.05)]; urine â-HB [0.10 to 0.37±0.09 p less than 0.05)]; milk â-HB [0.09 to 0.18±0.04 p less than 0.05)]. Urine pH did not change: 7.31 to 6.95±0.34 (p>0.05). No correlation was found between b-HB in blood and b-HB in milk. b-HB in blood and milk did not have a functional relationship in Jersey cows that was useful in diagnosing metabolic disorders.