Blood composition and liver fat in post parturient dairy cows.

Cows from three different herds were used to investigate the relationship between plasma D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate, serum free fatty acid and blood glucose concentrations and the amount of fat present in the liver in the week after calving. The study was particularly concerned with the diagnostic value of D(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate estimations. These estimations did not make a significant contribution to diagnosis of fatty liver nor did they reflect accurately the nutritional status of the cows.