The Powerful Consequences of the Rapid Blood Test on the Dairy Health
The rapid blood test is the most convenient way to rule out any probable pathogens harming cattle.
Significance of Pre-Parturition in Cows
The most important period in the life cycle of cows is the phase right before parturition. It’s referred to as pre-parturition and this phase is of considerable significance because the body is undergoing a lot of changes during this phase. It’s usually divided into the last two or three weeks resulting in the parturition.
At the onset of the pre-parturition phase, there is an increased concentration of colostrum which impacts the production of immunoglobulin G1 and G2 proteins in the cattle. It’s essential to rule out any such changes in the concentration of G1 and G2 proteins within the cow’s body right before the parturition so that sufficient nutrient supply can be ensured. Otherwise, this results in an increased risk of pathogens in their bloodstream.
The Active Role of Rapid Blood Testing Kits
Blood testing kits are a modern and much better source of tracing out any irregularity noticed in the blood or serum. It gets especially impactful during the pre-parturition phase when the fall of G1 and G2 proteins are difficult to trace. The testing kits can effectively measure the differences during this phase which makes it quite easy for the farmers to save their cattle from most of the lethal diseases which result after parturition. These kits actively use the blood sample of the pregnant cattle and then trace out the presence of antigens in them. Compared to conventional methods, the results are fast and authentic.
Consequences on the Cattle Health
1. Increased Colostrum Production
Pre-parturition is the phase during which colostrum levels are elevated to a certain level. However, the normal concentration can be disturbed by the enhanced level of pathogens. Since, it is commonly noticed that in regions like Sahara and South Asia, quite a large number of cows end up dying after calving because of the lack of proper diagnosis.
Since the degradation in the levels of G1 and G2 proteins can weaken the immune system of the cows, so they are potentially at a high level of risk. Timely diagnosis through the rapid blood test can help the farmers to take their cows for proper vaccination before calving and right after postpartum. When cows are naturally at low risk of getting infected, the production of colostrum at a healthy level can increase the milk yield.
2. Avoiding Herd-Related Ailments
The problem with most cattle-related issues is that they aren’t specified to a single animal but they impact every other member of the herd. Some kinds of viruses that can impact the pregnant animal due to a lack of G1 and G2 proteins can become aggressive in the whole herd.
This can create a huge problem for the farmers. In the middle of this year, Lumpy Skin Disease spread in some terrains of the South-Asian Region and exclusively in Pakistan. This disease killed more than 300 cows in the herd which led to a shortage of milk. Timely detection could have led to the prevention which could have saved hundreds of cattle lives.
3. Improvement of the Nutrients Supply
It is very important for pregnant cattle to have their fair share of nutrients during pregnancy. Just like a human, they are also going through a phase of development where a new life is propagating inside them.
It’s very important to focus on the nutrient supply associated with them. When the veterinarians detect a gradual decrease, being the experts, they often come up with a combination of foods that are useful for the pregnant cattle during the parturition period. Giving the cattle the right kind of nutrient supply also increases their immunity to combat pathogens at a high pace and it also facilitates calving.
4. Eliminating the Risk of Ketosis
Pathogens are not the only issue encountered by pregnant cattle, there is another condition that is harsher and more intense than the silent action of pathogens. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, ketosis is a problem that impacts pregnant cattle severely and thus causes dehydration and hindered growth.
The prime cause behind this is the low blood sugar level. This can be eliminated easily if a rapid blood test is performed every week to check out the overall glucose concentration in the cow’s body. This not only helps in maintaining an average blood-sugar level but ensures that the young calf is getting the nutrients prime for active growth.
Final Thoughts
A rapid blood test can help you in assessing the underlying causes behind the pregnant cow’s illness prior to calving and soon after it. It can further eliminate the possible risk of mother and fetal death due to weakness and lack of adequate nutrients.
An increase in colostrum is possible to balance with the production of sufficient immunoglobulin G1 and G2 proteins if the cattle are provided with sufficient nutrients throughout the pregnancy. Right before the parturition, the rapid blood test must be ensured and according to that, active steps can help the farmers in safeguarding both dairy health and overall milk production.
