Abstract

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, HAEMATOBIOCHEMICAL AND THERAPEUTIC STUDIES IN BOVINE KETOSIS

Hassen A. H. Bennasir, Abdul Qayoom Mir*, Hamidullah Malik, Faizullah Peer and Qurrat-ul-Ain Maqbool

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on bovine ketosis indicated a prevalence rate of highest in the age group of 8 to 9 years (47.36%) and in 3rd lactation (42.10%). Maximum number of clinical cases were recorded in 1 to 2 months post-partum (42.10%). Apart from eosinophilia (7.47±0.47%), no significant hematological changes were observed. Hypoglycemia (25.72±0.90mg/dl), hypocalcaemia (8.89±0.24mg/dl) and increase in blood urea nitrogen (27.56±1.00mg/dl) and free fatty acid levels (40.07±0.79mg/dl) were the major biochemical observations recorded in the present study. The body temperature in all the cases was within the normal range (100.8-101.2oF). Marginal elevation of respiration and pulse rates with reduced ruminal movements were also recorded. Sudden drop in milk yield, selective feeding, wasting, anorexia, acetone smell in breath/milk, depression, nervous symptoms, constipation, dry and scant faeces and disinclination to move and to eat were the symptoms recorded in 100, 78.94, 21.05, 47.36, 63.15, 31.57, 15.78, 36.84 and 5.26 per cent cases, respectively. Economic implications of the disease were worked out on the basis of drop in milk yield, duration of illness, cost of treatment and management. The drop in milk yield ranged from 30 to 80 per cent with a mean of 54.12±2.73. Oral glucose therapy was evaluated in the treatment of 19 cases of bovine ketosis. The treatment regimen gave a 100 per cent recovery rate as against parenteral glucose (100%) and corticosteroid (33.33%) therapy. The mean recovery time in the three therapeutic regimens- oral glucose, parenteral glucose and corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide) was 2.33±0.23, 2.75±0.36 and 5.66±0.61 days. The cost of treatment in oral glucose therapy worked out was lesser as compared to parenteral glucose therapy.

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