Feed-induced acetonurias in the cow
Scholz, H.; Eicken, K.; Ennen, E.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 85(3): 91-92
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 344031 Document Number: 133425
In 31 herds with a total of 950 dairy cows in North Germany about 50% of the cows showed disorders with three degrees of severity: (a) slight diarrhoea, ketone bodies in urine (ketonuria), (b) greatly reduced appetite, diarrhoea, ketonuria, (c) refusal to eat, severe diarrhoea, rumen atony, circulatory stress and ketonuria. Ketonuria was found in all cows and pregnant heifers and was not restricted to high-yielding lactating cows. The pelleted concentrate consisted of seed oil cake, dried grains, beans and cereals plus a vitamin supplemented mineral mix. The bean component was not Vicia faba, as expected, but Phaseolus vulgaris which contains the haemagglutinin phasin and hydrocyanic glycosides. Experiments with sheep and cows showed that feeding this concentrate reduced the apparent digestibility of protein, fat, calcium and sodium and increased that of carbohydrates, while increasing the rate of passage of ingesta. Ketone bodies appeared in the urine two days after giving the concentrate, but disappeared after withdrawal of the concentrate.