[Metabolic profile in cows in the peripartum period with and without retained placenta]

Blood samples were taken and subjected to biochemical analysis in the crossbred cows of the Red-Pied, Black-Pied or Holstein-Friesian breed raised on a large farm under standard conditions, with the average annual milk yield of 4,300 kg milk, and divided into two groups--cows with afterbirth retention and without it; the samples were taken in the last period of pregnancy (since day 245), during parturition, and within the first 50 days post partum. In both groups, the values of acid-base balance and metabolic profile mostly ranged within the interval of reference values, nevertheless there were certain trends and differences in absolute values as well as in the dynamics of changes, but they did not always show a doubtless character and the same significance. The cows with afterbirth retention exhibited a trend of a more expressive decrease in partial pressure CO2, actual acid output and phosphorus level. Glucose level at the end of pregnancy was statistically significantly lower (P < 0.01), cholesterol level also decreased (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the cows with afterbirth retention had, at the end of pregnancy, statistically significantly higher concentrations of urea and creatinine (P < 0.05-0.01), a higher bilirubin level and enzyme activities of acid phosphatase, and particularly of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05-0.01). There were insignificant differences in the concentrations of total protein, calcium, magnesium and enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transferase.