Testing and treating ketosis in dairy cows | Dellait

Álvaro García

Ketosis is a common metabolic disorder in dairy cows that typically arises during early lactation, especially in high-producing animals. It occurs when a cow’s energy demands for milk production exceed her dietary intake, leading to a negative energy balance (NEB). To compensate, the cow mobilizes fat reserves, which are metabolized into ketone bodies, primarily beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate, and acetone. When these accumulate excessively in the blood, milk, or urine, the condition is referred to as clinical or subclinical ketosis. Its origin is strongly tied to the physiological stress of calving and the rapid increase in energy requirements postpartum.

Economically, ketosis has a significant negative impact on dairy operations. Even in its subclinical form (where outward signs may not be visible) ketosis is associated with:

• Reduced milk production
• Decreased reproductive performance
• Higher risk of secondary diseases (e.g., displaced abomasum, mastitis, metritis)
• Increased culling rates
• Greater veterinary and treatment costs

Studies estimate that each case of subclinical ketosis can result in losses ranging from $75 to $250 per cow, depending on severity and management practices. Given its prevalence and cost, ketosis is not only a herd health issue but also a major economic burden that requires proactive monitoring and management in modern dairy operations.

Field protocol for Ketosis detection in cows

Urine ketone strip method

Equipment:

• Urine ketone strips (e.g., KetoStix)
• Clean collection container or gloves (for direct dip)

Steps:

1. Restrain cow calmly.
2. Gently massage the perineal area (below vulva) to stimulate urination.
3. Collect mid-stream urine or briefly dip the strip into the stream.
4. Wait 15–60 seconds, then compare the strip to the color chart.

Strip Color	Ketone Level	Interpretation
Beige	Negative	Normal
Light Pink	Trace	Subclinical ketosis
Dark Pink	Moderate	Clinical ketosis likely
Purple	High	Severe ketosis

Milk ketone test strip method

Equipment:

• Milk ketone test strips (e.g., Keto-Test, KetoCheck)

Steps:

1. Take a fresh milk sample (foremilk preferred).
2. Apply a few drops directly onto the test pad.
3. Wait 1–2 minutes.
4. Compare color to chart provided with the product.

Strip Color	Result	Action
White	Negative	No action needed
Light Gray	Borderline	Monitor closely
Blue/Violet	Positive (>200 µmol/L BHB)	Treat for ketosis

Blood BHB testing (gold standard)

Equipment:

• Handheld BHB meter (e.g., Nova Vet, FreeStyle Precision Xtra)
• Test strips
• Sterile needle/syringe or lancet

Steps:

1. Restrain cow and clean the tail vein area with alcohol.
2. Draw a small blood sample.
3. Insert test strip into meter and apply blood.
4. Wait for digital readout (~10 seconds).

Interpretation:

BHB Level (mmol/L)	Diagnosis	Action
< 1.2	Normal	No action needed
1.2–2.9	Subclinical ketosis	Increase energy intake, monitor
≥ 3.0	Clinical ketosis	Treat immediately (e.g., propylene glycol, IV glucose)

Treatment options

• Mild/Subclinical: Propylene glycol (300 mL orally daily for 3–5 days)
• Moderate to Severe: IV glucose + oral PG; consider corticosteroids (vet-guided)
• Nutritional Support: High-energy feed, remove competing diseases (e.g., DA, metritis)

Resources

Kruuse keto urine strips (50‑count)

• Price: approximately €8.06per pack via AgriVos
• Fast and economical option for routine urine testing
• Useful color-coded chart for easy interpretation

Milk ketone test (BHB) for cows

• Price: around €54.66 per kit via eBay
• Non‑invasive milk testing targeting β-hydroxybutyrate
• Ideal for use during milking without blood draws

Fora 6 Connect / GlucoRx vet blood ketone meter

• Prices: €39.95 (Fora 6 Connect) and €29.18 (GlucoRx HCT)
• Portable meters measuring blood BHB—closest to lab-level diagnostic accuracy

Elanco keto‑test (20‑count)

• Price: approximately €86.04 via AgriVos
• Milk/test‑strip format refined for veterinary use
• Reputable brand often used by vets directly

Cheapest & easy

Kruuse Keto Urine Strips (50‑ct)

€8.06

AgriVos + others

Non‑invasive milk test

Milk Ketone Test for Cows

€54.66

Most accurate blood test

Vet Blood Ketone Meter (Fora 6 / GlucoRx)

€29.18

Vet‑grade milk strip

Elanco Keto‑Test (20‑ct)

€86.04

Method	Cost per test	Sample Type	Notes
Urine strips	€0.16 each	Urine	Cheapest, but less accurate
Milk strips	€2.73 each	Milk	Non-invasive, moderate cost
Blood meter	€1–2 per BHB strip + device	Blood	Gold‑standard accuracy

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