Production diseases with a genetic disposition 1st Communication: Ketosis susceptibility of high-yielding dairy cows

As production diseases are designated metabolic disorders or infectious diseases of high-performance farm animal, which are closely associated with the chosen housing, feeding and treatment or specifically requested services. Ketosis is one such disease. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown a genetic component of ketosis susceptibility. This article aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding ketosis susceptibility from a genetic-breeding point of view. The consideration of ketosis susceptibility in breeding programs, as it is currently practiced in some countries (e.g. in the Netherlands), should be consi-dered as a long-term prevention strategy against hyperketonemia, which can using at the same time for the reduction of other diseases in the lactation and for genetic stabilization of the fertility of high-yielding dairy cows.