Evaluation of the correlation between serum levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total bilirubin (TB) and glucose (Gluc) and prevalence of fatty liver syndrome based on uterine status in dairy cattle of Tabriz province

Fatty liver is major metabolic disorder that affects approximately half of multiparous dairy cows mildly or severely in early lactation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of fatty liver syndrome by measuring the serum levels of NEFA, TB and Gluc in dairy cattle of Tabriz province. For this propose, 400 blood samples were collected from cattle. The sampled cows were divided into four groups according to their pregnancy status: 1-8 months pregnant, 8-9 months pregnant, less than a month after parturition and more than a month after parturition. Serum levels of NEFA, TB and Gluc were measured spectrophotometrically. In this survey, serum NEFA levels were significantly different between the four treatment groups (p<0.001).  Also it was noticed that serum NEFA concentration was significantly higher (p<0.001) during the first month of parturition (1125.58±123.60 mEq/L). Also, serum TB and Gluc levels were significantly different between the four treatment groups (p<0.001) during the first month of parturition. The results also showed that with increase in levels of serum NEFA in four treatments groups, serum levels of TB was increased and serum levels of Gluc was decreased (p<0.001). The results also indicated that among the cows studied, fatty liver syndrome is prevalent especially in the first month after parturition. There was no significant correlation between serum NEFA levels and age of the cows (p>0.05).