Methionine Hydroxy Analog Treatment of Bovine Ketosis: Effects on Circulating Metabolites and Interrelationships

Six cases of clinical ketosis were treated with methionine hydroxy analog (MHA) orally in 40-g doses once daily for 7 days. Slow elevations of blood gllucose, triglyceride, cholesterol ester, free cholesterol, and phospholipid and slow depressions of acetate were noted over the 21-day examination. Acetoacetate plus acetone, fl-hydroxybutyrate, and nonestertfied fatty acids were slowly falling but never returned to normal. Milk production responded slowly and failed to return to pretreatment yields in most eases. The results do not warrant recommendation of the use of MHA as the sole treatment for ketosis due to the relatively slow responses as compared to glucose, propylene glycol, or glucocortieoid treatments. Whether a combination of MHA administration with other treatments may be beneficial due to possible hepatic lipotropie effects or whether it would be beneficial for prevention was not tested.