Review

Are modern dairy cows suffering from modern diseases?

Authors
  • J. De Koster
  • G. Opsomer

Abstract

Overconditioning at calving is one of the most important risk factors for modern dairy cows to develop diverse health problems during the transition period. Currently, the metabolic syndrome gains much attention in human medicine. Research shows that the adipose tissue itself plays a crucial role in the increased susceptibility of obese people to a range of health problems, with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus as the most important problems. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the human metabolic syndrome and the fat cow syndrome with emphasis on both the similarities and differences. It may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the fat cow syndrome, giving rise to innovative insights into how to improve the management of modern dairy cows in the transition period.

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Published on
26 Apr 2012
Peer Reviewed