[Metabolic indicators in cows from herds with healthy and diseased calves].

Attention is drawn to some risk factors that may appear in cows as a result of metabolic disorders in large cattle stocks, thus implying a hazard for the health of calves. The mutual relationships of these factors were studied in four categories of animals: l) cows after calving with clinically healthy calves (62 cows), 2) cows after calving with diseased calves (63 cows), 3) highly pregnant cows from herds without clinically diseased calves (66 cows), 4) highly pregnant cows in herds with diseased calves (123 cows). The metabolic studies in the cows included the determination of 22 parameters of blood biochemistry, haematology, and urinary biochemistry. Comparisons were performed between groups 1 and 2 and between groups 3 and 4, in which the occurrence rate of pathological values was determined in all parameters, followed by the determination of statistical significance levels. The health disorders of the cows were examined on the basis of clinical and anamnestic data, and included mainly: still-born calves, post-partal calf mortality, poor viability, diarrhoea, enteritis. The following metabolic factors in cows are regarded as assuming the highest risks for the health of calves: alkalosis, calcium, and phosphosrus metabolism disorders, hypomagnesemia, sodium and potassium metabolism disorders, hepatic derangements, water metabolism disorders, ketoses. The relationship and biochemical continuity between the risk factors are discussed.