[Carbohydrate metabolic indices of ketotic and healthy cows]

Some of the indices of carbohydrate metabolism were studied in 30 freshly calved, high-producing cows affected with the disease and after they had recovered from ketosis as well as in 25 control cows. Investigated were the volatile fatty acids (VFA), ketone bodies, pH, and the count and composition of infusoria in the rumen content; the sugar, ketone bodies, and VFA in the blood--all being considered the most characteristic indices of carbohydrate metabolism in ruminants. With diseased cows pH in the rumen was 22 per cent lower than in the controls; the total count of infusoria per cu.cm was more than twice lower than the values found after recovery and those in the controls. Diplodinium and Isotricha infusoria were twice as low as the values found in the controls and after recovery. Entodinium infusoria were totally lacking in the rumen content of the affected animals, while the ketone bodies were 13.5 to 15.5 times as high, and VFA were 37 to 49 per cent lower. The level of the individual VFA fractions was altered; it was 2.4 to 2.8 times lower for acetic acid and 1.8 to 1.9 lower for propionic acid, while it was 1.8 to 2.1 times higher for butyric acid. The blood level of sugar in the diseased cows was more than twice lower, while the blood level of ketone bodies was 12 to 13 times higher; it was also higher (8 to 13 times) for VFA as compared with the values shown by normal cows and cows that had recovered from ketosis.