Evaluation of eight cow-side ketone tests in milk for detection of subclinical ketosis in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate eight cow-side ketone tests whe n used with milk for detection of subclinical ketosis. A total of 469 dairy cows in the first week of lactation were studied. Twelve percent of these cows had subclinical ketosis, defined as >1400 mu mol of beta-hydroxybutyra te/L of blood serum. The Pink test liquid and the Ketolac test strip were h ighly sensitive for subclinical ketosis when used with milk. The Uriscan an d Rapignost test strips were poorly sensitive; the Ketostix, Ketur-Test, an d Medi-Test-Keton test strips and the Acetonreagenz test tablet were insens itive for subclinical ketosis when used with milk. Pink and Ketolac milk ke tone tests are potentially useful tools for use in a routine monitoring pro gram to detect subclinical ketosis in early postpartal dairy cows.