Postparturient haemoglobinuria and hypophosphataemia in dairy cows due to feeding of beet pulp and berseem

ABSTRACT

Hypophosphatemia was tentatively diagnosed in a local dairy herd of Holstein cows. The history of the herd revealed that dried beet pulp replaced about 70% of the concentrate mixture and fed with berseem before the occurrence of the disease. Milk yield was sharply declined and the clinically manifested symptoms were loss of appetite, urine discoloration [from yellowish to red-brown color], with a slightly elevated body temperature and increased pulse and respiration rates. The disease occurred 2-3 weeks after calving and six cows showed hemoglobinuria. Analysis of the serum samples of the affected cows for inorganic phosphorus [Pi], phosphorus [P] therapy and correction of the ration, in addition to analysis of feed samples for P content confirmed the diagnosis