Haemoglobinuria and hypophosphataemia in postparturient dairy cows without dietary deficiency of phosphorus

Postparturient haemoglobinuria occurred in 11 Holstein-Friesian cows in 8 dairy herds in East Gippsland, Victoria. The affected cows had a wide range of ages, body condition and production level. Seven of 9 cows sampled were hypophosphataemic, 4 of 8 cows examined had Heinz bodies present in erythrocytes and strong ketonuria was present in 6 of 10 urine samples tested. Herdmates having similar calving dates had mostly normal serum phosphorus levels and none had Heinz bodies. There was no evidence for dietary phosphorus (P) deficiency, hypocuprosis or excessive P drain from high production being predisposing factors. There were no cruciferous plants in the diet. Haemolysis persisted in 4 cows despite treatment to raise serum P levels. An hyposthesis is proposed for the sporadic nature and clinical manifestations of the disease. This is based on mechanisms of hypophosphataemia occurring in man and mechanisms of Heinz body formation and haemolysis in other circumstances. We suggest that hypophosphataemia occurs following recovery from preparturient keto-acidosis caused by undernutrition in late pregnancy and then becoming nutritionally replete in the early postparturient period. Circulating oxidants may cause erythrocyte damage which may be predisposed to by hypophosphataemia.