Amelioration of postpartum hyperketonemia using amino acids, cyanocobalamin, inositol, α-lipoic acid, or monensin during the transition period of dairy cows

: Strategies for the prevention of hyperketonemia, or subclinical ketosis, based on providing additional glucose or glucose precursors provide discordant results suggesting that other poorly understood metabolic factors may potentially contribute to the onset of this affliction. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of hepatic-protectors (acetyl-Met, Ala, Arg, Thr, Gln, cyanocobalamin, inositol, and α-lipoic acid) or monensin to reduce postpartum hyperketonemia. A total of 594 Holstein Friesian dairy cows from a single herd were enrolled in a longitudinal study. Animals were blocked by parity and randomly distributed into 4 groups at dry-off: control group (CTR; n = 148); complete preventive protocol based on hepato-protectors (CPP; n = 149); simplified preventive protocol based on hepato-protectors (SPP; n = 149); and monensin (MON; n = 148). Cows in CPP received an i.m. injection of 2 mL/10 kg of BW of a solution containing acetyl-Met, Ala, Arg, Thr, Gln, inositol, and cyanocobalamin at 15 and 12 d before the expected calving date, and an i.m. injection of 20 mL/animal of a solution containing acetyl-Met, α-lipoic acid, and cyanocobalamin at calving, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 d postpartum. The SPP group received both drugs i.m. (2 mL/10 kg of BW and 70 mL/animal, respectively) at 12 d before the expected calving and 6 d postpartum. The MON group received one intraruminal bolus of monensin (32.4 g/animal) 21 d before the expected calving date. Blood samples were collected at 21 and 7 d before expected calving, the day of calving, and 7, 14, 28, and 55 d postpartum. Blood nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and BHB were determined in all animals, whereas blood biochemical profiles were evaluated in 180 cows (30.3%) randomly selected. Cows in CPP and SPP had lower serum NEFA, BHB, aspartate amino-transferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and urea concentrations than CTR and MON cows. Furthermore, SPP cows had the greatest serum albumin concentrations during the postpartum period. Postpartum hyperketonemia prevalence was lower in CPP and SPP than in CTR cows at 14 and 28 d, and lower than MON cows at 55 d. In addition, hyperketonemia prevalence was lower in SPP than in CTR cows at 55 d postpartum. Hepato-protectors influenced energy and protein metabolism, and liver metabolism of cows, and they may represent a valuable strategy to reduce hyperketonemia in dairy cattle.