Plasma Levels of Cortisol, Free Fatty Acids, Glucose and Calcium in Cows with Milk Fever

Abstract

Various biochemical aspects of milk fever in cows were investigated. Affectedcows had significantly increased plasma levels of cortisol, free fatty acids (FFA), glucoseand Mg, and significantly lowered plasma levels of Ca and K, as compared with normalpostpartum cows. There were significant positive correlations between cortisol-FFA andcortisol-glucose and significant negative correlations between Ca-cortisol, Ca-glucose andCa-FFA in cows with milk fever. None of these correlations were significant in controlcows.