Bovine Ketosis and Depressed Fat Test in Milk: A Problem of Methionine Metabolism and Serum Lipoprotein Aberration

Abstract

Blood serum lipoproteins for normal and Ketotic cows were studied during the early weeks of lactation. Fatty acid composition and the make up of the polar lipids indicated considerable structural changes in the lipoproteins of ketotic and sub-clinical ketotic cows. A deficiency of the essential amino acid methionine was postulated as the primary cause of bovine ketosis. Twenty-three cows were successfully treated by either intravenous injections of L-methionine or an injection of L-methionine plus oral administration of capsules of a methionine analog.