Predicting Retained Placenta in Dairy Cows Using Serum Enzyme Activity
Author Information
Author(s): Satoh Hiroki, Chisato Kyoko, Fukumori Rika, Tharwat Mohamed, Oikawa Shin
Primary Institution: Rakuno Gakuen University
Hypothesis
Can serum lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity predict retained placenta (RP) in close-up dairy cows?
Conclusion
Serum LCAT activity is a valid predictor of retained placenta in close-up dairy cows, similar to non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA).
Supporting Evidence
- LCAT activity was significantly lower in cows with retained placenta compared to controls.
- Cows with LCAT activity of <450 U were 3.6 times more likely to develop retained placenta.
- Cows with NEFA levels above 0.4 mEq/L were 5.4 times more likely to develop retained placenta.
- The area under the curve for LCAT activity was similar to that of NEFA concentration in predicting retained placenta.
Takeaway
This study found that measuring a specific enzyme in cows' blood can help predict if they will have problems after giving birth.
Methodology
A case-control study comparing serum LCAT activity and NEFA concentrations in cows with and without retained placenta.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the study being conducted at a single location and reliance on health records.
Limitations
The study was conducted on a single farm, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 835 Holstein parous cows from a single farm in Hokkaido, Japan.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.579–0.817 for NEFA, 95% CI: 0.555–0.805 for LCAT
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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