Winter is the peak season for ketosis in high-yielding lactating cows, particularly in cows 1-2 weeks postpartum, who are highly susceptible to the disease due to insufficient energy intake and reduced physical activity. Early detection and scientifically administered non-injectable prevention and treatment are crucial for maintaining herd health and lactating performance.
I. Early Recognition of Typical Symptoms of Cattle Ketosis.
Nucleotide metabolism disorders are mainly divided into two types: digestive type and neurogenic type, with the digestive type being the most common.
1. Digestive symptoms (most common)
• Abnormal appetite: Affected cattle exhibit significantly reduced appetite, showing aversion to refined feed and preference for roughage, with complete refusal to eat in severe cases.
• Sudden decrease in lactation: A sharp decline in milk production, resulting in thinning of breast milk and significant breast atrophy.
• Abnormal feces: dry, scanty stools often covered with mucus; some affected cattle may present with mild diarrhea.
• Characteristic odor: Foul apple odor (acetone smell) in exhaled breath, urine, and breast milk, which is a typical feature of ketone body accumulation.
2. Neurological symptoms (often misdiagnosed)
• Excitability and restlessness: Affected cattle exhibit restlessness, displaying abnormal behaviors such as circling, barking, and ramming against fences, accompanied by muscle tremors and nystagmus.
• Late-stage suppression: As the disease progresses to its advanced stage, it transitions into a suppressed state. Affected cattle exhibit lethargy and drowsiness, with severe cases progressing to coma, collapse, and limb rigidity, ultimately potentially leading to death due to acidosis.
II. Core of Winter Prevention: Energy Balance and Stress Reduction.
1、The prevention of winter ketosis focuses on optimizing feeding management, addressing multiple dimensions including nutrition, exercise, and monitoring.
• Precise nutritional supplementation: From 1 week before delivery to 2 weeks after delivery, propylene glycol and glycerol are added to the feed to directly provide sugar precursors and reduce ketone body formation. Concurrently, compound B complex is supplemented with vitamin B complex and niacin to promote gluconeogenesis and energy metabolism, thereby enhancing the body's stress resistance.
• Increase exercise duration: On sunny winter days, drive the cattle herd outdoors for 1–2 hours to promote blood circulation and gastrointestinal motility.
• Regular ketone monitoring: Use ketone test strips to periodically monitor urine in high-producing cows, with 1-2 tests per week postpartum to enable early detection and intervention.
During the initial postpartum period (1-2 weeks) of high-producing cows, milking frequency can be appropriately restricted (starting with half-milking and gradually resuming full milking) to reduce the energy burden on the organism.
III. Scientific Treatment After Onset: Glucose Supplementation and Ketone Body Reduction, Correction of Acidosis.
1. Once bovine ketosis is diagnosed, targeted oral therapeutic measures must be immediately implemented to rapidly alleviate the condition.
• Oral high-sugar feed/formulation: Administration of brown sugar, glucose powder, etc., to rapidly elevate blood glucose concentration and inhibit fat breakdown.
• Oral propylene glycol: Propylene glycol can be converted to glucose in the rumen, offering sustained and safe effects.
• Oral sodium bicarbonate powder: Adjust the dosage according to the condition of the affected cattle to avoid overdose-induced alkalosis.
2、Adjuvant therapy for accelerated recovery
• When used in combination with Fuyibao, it supplements multiple vitamins and amino acids to repair impaired metabolic functions, enhance immunity, and facilitate rapid recovery of the affected cattle.
