INVESTIGATIONS ON EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF DISP OSITION TO PARTURIENT PARESIS

From July to September examinations were performed in a dairy cowshed with a stock of 1.930 cows. The examinations were confined to 47 cows of the breed ,,Schwarzbuntes Milchrind'' (03.6 lactation periods, 0585 0 kg milk per pear). The aims were to analyse the correlation between the acid-base-status (ABS) and the mineral-nutrient-status (MNS) in th e peripartal period and to check parameters of early diagnostic inform ation and their value for disposition to parturient paresis. For that purpose follow-up investigations of ABS and MNS with the help of blood and urine samples were performed 14 days ante partum to 14 days post partum. In order to make the differences clear all examined animals we re divided into groups according to the concentrations of ionized calc ium (Ca-i) in their blood sub partu and to some ABS parameters ante pa rtum. Ante partum (a.p.) the fodder ration contained a dietary-cation- anion-difference 2 (DCAD 2) of 281 mEq/kg dry matter with potassium cl early dominating. The Calcium (Ca) intake totalled 42 g/d and the inor ganic phosphate intake was (P-i) 44 g/d. From 14 days a.p. to partus a n average continuous 100 mmol/l decrease in the concentration of netto -acld-base-excretion (NABE), of bases and of potassium in the urine wa s established. Equally the base-acid-quotient (BAQ) fell from 4.0 to 2 .1 and the pH-value fell from 8.2 to 7.8, whereas the concentration of acids, ammonium, P-i and Ca in the urine remained stable to a large e xtent. However, the concentration of Ca, and Pi in the blood dropped i mmediately before parturition. The a. p. existing alcalotic ABS is det ermined by a high base concentration especially of potassium. Moreover it was shown clearly that the animals with a relatively high alcaloti c ABS a. p. had the lowest concentrations of Ca, in the blood at the t ime of parturition. Recommendations for early diagnosis of parturient paresis are given. The following recommendations can be derived for 14 d a. p. (a/) and 7 d a. p. (/b): bases < 300/ < 270 mmol/l, NAPE < 25 0/ < 220 mmol/l, BAQ 4,3, potassium < 300/ < 250 mmol/l, pH-value < 8, 4/ less than or equal to 7,8. Unfortunately the formation of the creat inine quotient of the tested urine parameters did not provide any conv incing results.