A new study has identified a breed of dairy cow prone to ketosis, a common disease causing reduced milk production and reproductive problems. Researchers analysed 176 calves to identify individuals prone to the disease, noting higher incidence rates in cows calved in summer versus those calved in autumn. Farmers are advised to monitor at-risk cattle for the disease and seek prompt treatment if necessary.

The Rural Development Administration (Director Jae-ho Cho) presented a type of dairy cow (Holstein breed) that is prone to ‘ketosis’, a nutritional metabolic disease common in dairy cows.

Ketosis is a disease caused by excessive accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood in cows in the early stages of lactation. Sickness can lead to reduced feed intake, reduced body weight and milk production, as well as reproductive problems, gait disturbances, and metritis.

The research team analyzed 176 calves that had been calved and derived characteristics of individuals prone to ketosis.

In addition, when the weight of the calf was over 45kg, the incidence rate was 31.2% higher than when the weight was less than 36kg.

The higher the milk production between the 4th and 6th days of milking after parturition, the higher the occurrence of ketosis and the more severe the symptoms. Cows without ketosis produced an average milk yield of about 21 kg, and cows in ketosis produced an average of more than 26 kg.

In terms of season, the incidence of ketosis was highest in cows calved in summer at 73.7%, followed by spring (57.1%), winter (40.4%), and autumn (37.5%). In addition, the higher the calving age and number of cows, and the longer the calving interval, the higher the probability of getting into ketosis.

On the other hand, the occurrence of ketosis did not show any relationship with breeding method, delivery time, prematurity, calf sex, or twin delivery.

Dairy farmers who have types of cows prone to ketosis should be carefully monitored and diagnosed with ketosis and promptly treated when milk production decreases by more than 10% or feed intake decreases.

Director Kim Sang-beom of the Dairy Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, said, “If the previously developed ketosis treatment and the type of entity at risk of ketosis are used together, effective disease management is possible.” It will help,” he said.

Meanwhile, the results of this study were published in the January 2023 issue of the international journal ‘Veterinary Medicine and Science’.