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Porta BHB Ketone Test

Description

Ketosis in dairy cows occurs as a result of negative energy balance, A condition most common during the early postpartum period. During this time, milk production is increasing dramatically, while energy intake may not be adequate to sustain this production level. When this happens, cows metabolize body fat to meet their energy needs, resulting in increased production of ketones, a condition known as subclinical ketosis. This condition is much more common than clinical ketosis, and has been associated with significant economic losses due to decreased milk production, impaired fertility, displaced abomasums and metritis.

Researchers have determined that the herd prevalence of subclinical ketosis is approximately 41% for the first 9 weeks of lactation. Subclinical ketosis can be detected by measuring the level of ketone bodies in milk, blood or urine. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is one of the major ketone bodies formed during ketosis. The ketone test is a simple, on-farm test to screen for BHB levels in milk. BHB levels >200 ¥ìmol/L in milk were found to be 4 times more likely to come from cows with subclinical ketosis.

Effects Ketose

  • Ketosis causes 0.5% death loss in affected cows
  • 5% of affected cows are culled
  • Ketosis averages 200 ltr milk los per affected cow
  • Each case costs approximately € 110,-
  • Ketosis increases risk of impaired fertility and displaced abomasum

    Why testing for ketose?

  • Monitoring cows for ketose can help prevent economic losses.
  • Regular screening can help determine which cows have the highest risk of becoming clinically ketotic.

    When testing for ketose?

  • Cows should be sampled for BHB at 2 to 14 days in milk, possibly up to 21 days in milk —when the incidence of Subclinical ketosis peaks.
  • Exercise caution in the use of cow-side tests for the detection of ketones within the first 48 hours after calving. A positive test for ketones is very common during this period due to a large surge in plasma concentrations at calving.

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