A NEW QUICK-TEST FOR SEMIQUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF BETA-HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID IN BOVINE-MILK

A new teststrip for semiquantitative determination of beta-hydroxybuty ric acid (BHB) in bovine milk has been tested in experimental investig ations in three lactating cows. After intraruminal administration of b utyric acid, the following parameters were determined during 7 hours: milk concentrations of BHB (quantitatively and semiquantitatively) and acetone (quantitatively), BHB concentration in blood and urine (quant itatively), acetone + acetic acid concentration in urine (semiquantita tively). The new quick-test proved to be highly sensitive and even sub clinical or physiological levels of BHB in milk could be determined. I t seems to be suitable not only for the diagnosis of clinically manife st ketosis in dairy cows, but also for the control of the energy metab olism on a herd basis and as an indicator of ketogenic feedstuffs in t he ration.