2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

The results showed that TNCC ≥ 4.5 cells/µL and/or a protein concentration ≥ 0.40 g/L was associated with a worse short-term prognosis in recumbent dairy cattle. Indeed, 53% of cows with CSF values below the pre-determined threshold values were discharged from the hospital, which is comparable to the survival rate of all recumbent adult dairy cows that present to our referral center (survival rate of 48% between 1994 and 2014, n = 1271). The short-term survival rate was 30% in cows where only the TNCC value was above the threshold (P = 0.035), 28% if only the protein concentration was above the threshold (P = 0.012), and 34% if both CSF parameters were above the thresholds (P = 0.024). However, in cows discharged from the hospital (n = 104), the long-term prognosis was comparable amongst groups; 60% (53/88) of cows with CSF values below the thresholds, and 75% (12/16) of cows with one or more CSF value above the thresholds completed at least one lactation after their return to the farm (P = 0.37).