Metabolic disorders in Ruminant, Fat Cow Syndrome ,Fatty liver syndrome

- Etiology and Risk Factors

1- Overconditioning

Overfeeding during late lactation or the dry period leads to high Body Condition Scores (BCS > 4.0), storing excess fat. The primary risk factor is excessive adiposity at calving. Fat cows have:

• Reduced feed intake near parturition
• Greater susceptibility to NEB
• Increased fat mobilization compared to normal-weight cows

2- Negative Energy Balance (NEB)

Around calving, energy demand increases dramatically as milk production begins. When intake does not match demand, adipose tissue mobilizes non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), predisposing to fatty liver.

3- Hepatic lipidosis

Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver): The liver takes up these NEFAs but cannot process them all. They are esterified into triglycerides and stored, severely impairing liver function

4- Metabolic Crisis: The damaged liver fails in gluconeogenesis, causing fatal hypoglycemia and increasing ketone body production (ketosis).

3- Metabolic and Hormonal Changes

• Increased insulin resistance in late gestation
• Increased lipolytic activity
• Hepatic inability to export triglycerides as very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)

4- Concurrent Diseases

FCS frequently coexists with:

• Ketosis
• Milk fever
• Metritis
• Mastitis
• Displaced abomasum

These conditions reduce appetite, worsening energy deficit and fat mobilization.