Muscular dystrophy in dairy cows following a change in housing technology

The objective of the study was to monitor the state of health (in particular damage to muscular tissues) in dairy cows suffering from a marked selenium deficiency. The investigations were conducted in a herd of Bohemian Red Pied cattle at the time of a transfer from a stanchion barn into loose boxes, Biochemical tests were done in nine clinically normal dairy cows before the transfer and thereafter on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. Apart from selenium deficiency, only moderate increases of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were found before the transfer, Significant increases of CK, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and LD activities and potassium concentration in blood plasma found on day I were indicative of a muscular damage. The activities of CK and LD, the concentration of potassium, and less markedly the activity of AST decreased at the time of the subsequent sampling (day 3). Another significant increases in CK, LD, and AST activities, indicative of persisting muscular damage, were observed, along with a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity in whole blood, on day 28. Clinical muscular dystrophy, manifested by general weakness, subcutaneous oedema, and downer syndrome, and accompanied by marked increases in CK, LD, and AST activities was observed in four dairy cows of the transferred group. The results are an evidence of muscular dystrophy in adult selenium-deficient dairy cows in response to increased locomotor activity and stress associated with the change in housing conditions.