Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases

The present study was carried out on 108 multiparous holstein friesian dairy cows belonging to private owned dairy farms in Giza, Behera and Sharkyia governorates. The objective of the study was to: 1. Elucidation the metabolic deficiency of these animals as perceived by carrying out of the metabolic profile test, and 2. monitoring the incidence of some metabolic problems among these herds. The selected cows were divided into four groups: Group I: This group contained 15 non-pregnant cows and was used as a control group. Group II: This group consisted 20 late pregnant cows (cows waiting for parturition i.e 1 month prepartum). Group III: This group included of 20 parturient cows (cows ca. 1-3 weeks post parturient). Group IV: This group contained 53 cows with post parturient complications, i.e. 7 with milk fever, 12 with milk lameness, 16 with ketosis (wooden cow syndrome) and 18 cows with low fat milk syndrome. All cows were subjected to thorough clinical examination and two blood samples were obtained from each cow the first with EDTA for hematological examination (Hb, PCV, RBCs, MCV, MCH, MCHC) and the second without EDTA for biochemical analysis for estimation of the levels of serum glucose, total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, triglycerides, total cholesterol, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium. The result revealed that metabolic profile test is a useful tool in diagnosis, prevention and prediction of metabolic disorders in dairy cows and its application is highly recommended in dairy farms especially during transition periods to improve animals health and optimize their productivity

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