[Development and basics of metabolic monitoring in dairy cows. Focus on research in Eastern Germany and at the University of Leipzig, Germany].

UNLABELLED: Systematic metabolic monitoring began in German-speaking countries in the late 1960s, early 1970s, due to an increase in metabolic disorders as a cause of infertility and mastitis and aimed at their prevention through early diagnosis. Development of a unified monitoring standard: Initiated by Rossow, Gürtler, Ehrentraut, Seidel and Furcht a standard "metabolic monitoring in cattle production" was developed in the 1970s. It included farm analysis, clinical and biochemical controls, prophylaxis and follow-up controls. Key points were: periodic screenings of heavily loaded, healthy indicator animals 2-4 days post partum (p.  p.), 2-8 weeks p.  p. and 1-2 weeks ante partum, maximal 10 animals/group, pooled samples are useful, optimal are individual samples, use of informative sample substrate and parameters, precise handling of specimens, expert assessment and follow-up. Metabolic controls during 1982-1989 in approximately 242  000 cows revealed means of 32.9% ketoses, 20.0% metabolic acidosis, 21.9% metabolic alkalosis, 34.2% nitrogen-metabolism disorders, 17.3% sodium deficiency and 23.7% liver disorders. Development of a metabolic profile after 1989: Reference values at higher milk yield, early diagnosis of diseases of the fat mobilization syndrome and improved early diagnosis by new indicators, including creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (AP) with isoenzymes, acute phase proteins, cytokines, antioxidants, carnitine and lipoprotein fractions, were established. Optimized blood and urine screenings have important advantages over milk analysis. They are an important method of health and performance stabilization by exact analysis of causes and derived prevention.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The fertility related parameters free fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, urea, inorganic phosphate, CK, AP, sodium, potassium, selenium, copper, β-carotene and net acid-base excretion proved to be a standard spectrum for screenings. These should be tested once a year/herd, if necessary as an inexpensive pool sample for approximately 50 €.