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Nutritional myodegeneration in dairy cows.
The Veterinary Record
|July 8, 1978
Summary
Parturient dairy cows resistant to milk fever treatment experienced muscle degeneration, possibly due to low vitamin E and selenium. This syndrome also correlated with retained placentae in affected cows.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Nutrition
- Ruminant Health
Background:
- Parturient dairy cows can present with signs similar to milk fever.
- Conventional milk fever treatments are sometimes ineffective in certain cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- Describe a specific syndrome in dairy cows unresponsive to milk fever therapy.
- Investigate potential causes and pathological findings associated with this condition.
Main Methods:
- Clinical observation of affected dairy cows.
- Gross and histological examination of affected tissues.
- Nutritional assessment of affected herds.
Main Results:
- Affected cows exhibited reluctance to walk, stiffness, and recumbency.
- Low vitamin E and selenium intake, pregnancy stress, and erratic feeding were identified as potential triggers.
- Skeletal and cardiac myodegeneration were observed.
- A high incidence of retained placentae was noted.
Conclusions:
- The described syndrome in dairy cows may be linked to nutritional deficiencies (vitamin E, selenium) and physiological stress.
- Myodegeneration and retained placentae are significant pathological findings.
- Further research into the etiology and management of this condition is warranted.