Fatty Acid Composition of Blood Serum Lipoproteins from Normal and Ketotic Cows

Fatty acid analyses of α- and β-lipoproteins of normal, subclinical, and clinical ketotic cows during the early part of lactation have been performed. Sufficient data were obtained to reveal a large degree of individual animal variation. Nevertheless, significant differences between normal and ketotic cows regarding the α-lipoproteins’ composition were detected. The β-lipoproteins show distinct fatty acid compositional trends, but the amount of individual variation obviates statistical significance. The data were interpreted as indicating alteraions in lipoprotein structure and supported the postulation that a breakdown in lipid and protein transport may be a primary event in bovine ketosis.