Metabolic Disorders of Dairy Cattle

Dairy cattle metabolic disorders, which are diseases related to disturbance of one or more metabolic processes in the organism are discussed in this overview. The transition period which includes three weeks before and three weeks after parturition is very critical for dairy cows. This period of time is associated with multiple changes including hormonal changes, moving from non-lactating to lactating state as well as a major drop in feed intake and switching of the diet from a roughage-based diet (i.e. hay and grass) into a diet rich in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates (i.e. high-grain diets). One in two dairy cows in a herd is affected by one or multiple metabolic disorders. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of most metabolic disorders is not fully understood, different preventive and treatment strategies have been developed during the years. A more detailed and comprehensive treatise on cattle metabolic disorders can be obtained from several scientific review articles which have been listed and annotated in the bibliography section of this chapter.