Incidence of Ketosis, other Diseases, and Some Postpartum Reproductive Ailments in Normal and Triiodothyronine-Treated Cows

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Abstract
The incidence of ketosis in 1032 cows calving between November and December was 19%. Triiodothyronine (T3) implants increased either the severity or incidence of ketosis symptoms. This might have been due to increasing the relative caloric deficiency. More than 2/3 of the cows displaying clinical symptoms of ketosis did not have other diseases or elevated temperatures. Uterine involution was more rapid in ketotic cows and in T3-implanted cows than in controls. Regression of pregnancy corpora lutea was more rapid in the T3-implanted cows. The calving interval was 7 days shorter for thyronine-implanted cows. Milk production was 11% greater for ketotic cows than for nonketotic cows, with thyronine causing a slight depression in the 2nd month of lactation.