Milk Test for Ketosis in Dairy Cows

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Abstract
A qualitative milk test for ketosis involving the use of a material containing sodium carbonate, ammonium sulfate, and sodium nitroprusside gave a conservative but accurate indication of the degree of ketosis. There was a correlation coefficient of +0.87 between the blood and milk levels of the ketone fraction made up of acetoacetic acid and acetone. A lower correlation coefficient of +0.36 between the blood and milk levels of betahydroxybutyric acid could be attributed to utilization of this fraction by the mammary gland. Total milk ketones were a little less than one-half the blood ketones.