Metabolic Profile Test of Dairy Herds in Hokkaido

The purpose of the report first is to set the standard values of blood composition and to examine the effects of the stages of lactation, age region and milk performance for 1, 247 dairy cows in Hokkaido, which would be the criteria for judging metabolic profile tests. Blood analyses were performed for PCV, Albumin, BUN, Glucose, FFA, Ca, Pi, Mg, K, GOT and Cholesterol. The levels of FFA and Cholesterol varied with stages of lactation, and the variation of BUN largery depended on regions.Next, a total of 70 profile tests were carried out in 26 herds. Herds with a high incidence of production diseases had many metabolities outside of 1.3 SD of the standard values.In blood compositions, BUN reflected short-term protein intake. Low level of PCV and Albumin was indicative of a longstanding low protein status. Glucose and FFA reflected energy intake, and FFA was more sensitive than Glucose as an indication of energy status. Low level of Pi or Mg was concerned with incidence of milk fever or infertility. GOT and Cholesterol were not concerned with incidence of production diseases.