Evaluation of Eight Cow-Side Ketone Tests in Milk for Detection of Subclinical Ketosis in Dairy Cows

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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate eight cowside ketone tests when used with milk for detection of subclinical ketosis. A total of 469 dairy cows in the first week of lactation were studied. Twelve percent of these cows had subclinical ketosis, defined as >1400 micromol of beta-hydroxybutyrate/L of blood serum. The Pink test liquid and the Ketolac test strip were highly sensitive for subclinical ketosis when used with milk. The Uriscan and Rapignost test strips were poorly sensitive; the Ketostix, Ketur-Test, and Medi-Test-Keton test strips and the Acetonreagenz test tablet were insensitive for subclinical ketosis when used with milk. Pink and Ketolac milk ketone tests are potentially useful tools for use in a routine monitoring program to detect subclinical ketosis in early postpartal dairy cows.