Haematology of downer dairy cows with fatty liver

Th is study examined downer dairy cows with concurrent fatty liver of diff erent degrees and evaluated the haematological values, the relationship and joint occurrence of fatty liver severity and haematology and compared the haematological values in the downer animals that fi nally died or cured. Blood and liver biopsy samples were obtained from 36 Holstein downer cows shortly aft er they became recumbent and before they were treated. Blood analysis included determination of haematocrit, haemoglobin, white blood, granular cell and lymphocytes count, and platelet number. Liver tissue was examined histologically and was classifi ed according to severity of fatty liver. Th e majority of downer cows had fatty liver. Concerning outcome, 9 of the 36 cows were fi nally cured and 27 were confi rmed dead by the deadline decided for cases’ follow up, which was the 7th day-in-milk. Th ere was a signifi cant association between clinical outcome (cured or died) and severity of fatty liver, while none of the haematological parameters showed any signifi cant diff erence between the cured vs. animals that died. Th e haematology of downer cows with concurrent fatty liver did not off er sound help in patient evaluation. Th ere was no strong correlation between blood parameters and liver triglyceride content or other liver diagnostic parameters. Neither haematological parameter showed any signifi cant diff erence between animals which fi nally either died or were cured.