Testing Energy levels in Cows

[zyklon]

What’s the best of testing a cow if she is low in energy etc? I had a temp vet out one year and he sampled a drop of the cows blood on the spot with a little device and it told him if the cow was low in energy or if she had ketosis.

 

[jimmer]

 

[pappuller]

What’s the best of testing a cow if she is low in energy etc? I had a temp vet out one year and he sampled a drop of the cows blood on the spot with a little device and it told him if the cow was low in energy or if she had ketosis.

Diabetic test kit far cheaper than vets kit

 

[Farmer Fin]

Diabetic test kit far cheaper than vets kit

Most vets use a human diabetic checker which are about £15. However it’s the test strips which used to be about £2 per strip and bought in packs of 10. These are not the same as a human diabetic as humans are checking glucose and vets check ketones. The blood test give a very accurate reading. Urine dip sticks as in the above pic will give a crude result.

 

[zyklon]

Spotted this might be easier and the same a the vet I saw was using.

The Importance of Reliable Ketone Testing in Dairy Cows - Rapid Labs

The period between calving and end of lactation is a critical time period that strongly correlates with the health and milk production of the cow. Regular monitoring of blood BHBA levels in dairy cows is considered the gold standard for measing ketone levels to aid early detection and management...

www.rapidlabs.co.uk

 

[pappuller]

Most vets use a human diabetic checker which are about £15. However it’s the test strips which used to be about £2 per strip and bought in packs of 10. These are not the same as a human diabetic as humans are checking glucose and vets check ketones. The blood test give a very accurate reading. Urine dip sticks as in the above pic will give a crude result.

We have a diabetic in the family and the results mirror each other, the vet strips tend to be considerably dearer somehow

 

[Farmer Fin]

We have a diabetic in the family and the results mirror each other, the vet strips tend to be considerably dearer somehow

Cows control their energy balance differently to humans. The results won’t mirror each other. They rarely get hypoglycaemia like humans do but will have raised BHBs. Humans are the other way round with low glucose often and rarely raised BHB. Ketoacidosis in humans is really bad. I’m a qualified vet with a diabetic wife, I understand both conditions quite well.

 

[O'Reilly]

"Milk Ketone Tests - Millwood Products" https://www.millwoodproducts.co.uk/category/milk-ketone-tests/
I was looking at these. Look nice and simple, £36 for 25 strips, but is it too crude? I thought that by testing a batch of fresh cows, it would give an Idea of how the diet was working.

 

[zyklon]

I’ve ordered the Rapidlabs kit so will see how it goes.

 

[Farmer Fin]

"Milk Ketone Tests - Millwood Products" https://www.millwoodproducts.co.uk/category/milk-ketone-tests/
I was looking at these. Look nice and simple, £36 for 25 strips, but is it too crude? I thought that by testing a batch of fresh cows, it would give an Idea of how the diet was working.

They are crude but better than nothing. Look at the % of cows with an issue to monitor rather than absolute values of cows if that makes sense. Also if you checking cows in the first 3-10 days that tends to be a reflection of transition / close up ration / intakes. Checking around 3 weeks tends to be an issue with milking ration - these are ruff rules.

 

[som farmer]

usually if milk protiens are high, little problem with energy levels, our test strips, have been in the cupboard for some time, protien running at 3.6 % av.