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Fat Infiltration in the Liver of Finnish Ayrshire Cows during Early Lactation

Fettinfiltration i levern hos finska Ayrshire kor under tidig laktation

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 28, pages 143–149 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

The incidence and severity of fat infiltration in the liver of Finnish Ayrshire cows at 1 and 8 weeks after calving were studied. All multiparous (n = 88) and some primiparous (n = 17) cows that calved in 20 commercial milk recorded herds were investigated. The cows lost weight and a condition score decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during early lactation. Blood samples were taken at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after calving. Ketone body concentrations were highest at 4 weeks after calving. Albumin and total protein concentrations and ornithine carbamyltransferase activity in the blood increased significantly (p = < 0.05) from 1 to 8 weeks after calving. The percentage of liver fat (v/v) was significantly (p < 0.05) greater at 1 (3.9 ± 0.5 %) than at 8 weeks (1.2 ± 0.3 %) after calving. Eighty-nine of 102 cows had less than or equal to 9 % of fat in the liver (mean 2.3 ± 0.2 %), and 13 cows had more than 9% (mean 14.9 ± 1.2%) at 1 week after calving. Only blood acetoacetate and plasma aspartate aminotransferase differed significantly between the groups. In the fatty liver group the incidence rate of treated cases of ketosis was 30.8 ± 13.3 % and of parturient paresis 23.1 ± 12.2 %. In the non-fatty liver group the rates were 10.1 ± 3.2 % and 7.8 ± 2.9 %, respectively. The differences were not significant.

Sammendrag

Förekomsten och graden av fettinfiltrering i levern hos finska Ayrshire kor en samt åtta veckor efter kalvningen studerades. Alla multipara (n = 88) och några Primipara (n = 17) kor som kalvade i 20 besättningar hörande till mjölkkontrollregistret undersöktes. Koma gick ner i vikt och konditionspoängen minskade signifikativt (p < 0.05) under tidig laktation. Blodprov togs en, fyra och åtta veckor efter kalvningen. Koncentrationen av ketonkroppar var störst fyra veckor efter kalvningen. Albumin- och totalprotein koncentrationerna samt ornitin carbamyltransferasaktiviteten i blodet ökade signifikativt (p < 0.05) från en till åtta veckor efter kalvningen. Fettprocenten i levern (v/v) var signifikativt högre (p < 0.05) en vecka (3.9 ± 0.05%) än åtta veckor (1.2 ± 0.3%) efter kalvningen. Åttionio av 102 kor hade mindre än eller lika med 9% fett i levem (medeltal 2.3 ± 0.2 %) och tretton kor hade mera än 9 % (medeltal 14.9 ± 1.2%) en vecka efter kalvningen. Bara värdena för acetoacetat i blodet och aspartat aminotransferas i plasma var signifikativt olika i grupperna. I gruppen med fettlever (> 9 %) var frekvensen behandlade fall av ketos 30.8 ± 13.3% och kalvningsförlamning 23.1 ± 12.2%, respektive 10.1 ± 3.2% och 7.8 ± 2.9% i gruppen med lägre fettinfiltrering. Skillnaderna var inte signifikanta.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland. The authors thank Mrs. Riikka Santalahti and Mrs. Tuire Pankasalo for skilful technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Departments of Animal Hygiene, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anatomy and Embryology, and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 6, SF-00551, Helsinki, Finland

    Y. Gröhn, K. Heinonen & L.-A. Lindberg

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  1. Y. Gröhn
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  2. K. Heinonen
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  3. L.-A. Lindberg
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Gröhn, Y., Heinonen, K. & Lindberg, LA. Fat Infiltration in the Liver of Finnish Ayrshire Cows during Early Lactation. Acta Vet Scand 28, 143–149 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548234

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147