FAT COW SYNDROME IN A HOLSTEIN DAIRY HERD: CLINICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND EMATOLOGICAL STUDIES

A total number of 21 multiparous Holstein cows (4-8 years) were used in this study. These cows were assigned into 2 groups: the control group was 7 clinically healthy and the diseased group was 14 which were appear too fat with marked drop in milk yield. The herd history of feeding excessive concentrates in the late lactation and the prolonged dry period had led the cows to excessive fattening. The fat cow syndrome (FCS) occur in the immediate postpartum period. The body condition score of the diseased cows was 4 or more. The main clinical signs were de- pression, anorexia, weakness, ketonuria, marked drop in milk production and recumbency. Significant increase in plasma beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHB) (P<0.01), serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) (P<0.001) and significant decrease in glucose (P<0.01), cholesterol (P<0.001), triglyceride (P<0.001), were recorded in cows. with FCS in comparison to the control group. Significant increase in serum bilirubin (P < 0.01), AST (P < 0.01), GGT (P<0.01) and GLDH (P < 0.001), however, non-significant increase in CK and SDH were reported in cows with FCS in comparison to the control group. Significant increase in serum urea (P < 0.01), and significant decrease in total protein, albumin (P<0.05), and insignificant decrease in globulin were found in cows with FCS. Non-significant hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, hypochloremia, hyponatremia and hypokalemia and non-significant alterations were also reported in the hemogram of the cows with FCS. It cauld be concluded that BHB, NEFA, T. lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride, bilirubin and liver enzymes were reliable markers for diagnosis of FCS in dairy herds.