POOLED SERUM PROFILES PERIPARTURIENT DISEASE RISK: CLINICAL PATHOLOGY HERESY OR PRACTICAL HERD DIAGNOSTICS?

摘要

Metabolic profiling as originally defined using the Compton Metabolic Profile (CMP) procedure was insufficient in identifying herd problems. More recent research has better characterized metabolic dynamics around the time of calving and their relationship with high prevalence of metabolic and infectious disease problems. This, coupled with a series of factors including improved diagnostic tests, increasing herd size and recognition of transition cow health impact on herd performance, have revived interest in new testing protocols to better assess herd periparturient disease risk. Cost and interpretation have been the limiting factors to widespread adoption of a metabolic profiling procedure. New strategies to reduce costs and yet maintain some useful diagnostic value have evolved either herd-based diagnostic or screening approaches. Use of pooled samples collected from predefined physiologic groups, and testing a wide array of analytes, has been advocated as a practical and economic method of screening the dairy herd for periparturient disease risk. This presentation will describe methods, validation, and interpretation of a pooled sample approach in the application of metabolic profiling as a herd diagnostic tool.