BACKGROUND: Ovarian cysts are among the diseases which cause reproductive failure and economic losses in dairy herds. High yelding dairy cattles are suseptable to reproductive failure caused by ovarian cysts, as a result of their exposure to stressful coditions during lactation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to monitor metabolic profile tests in dairy cows with ovarian cysts in comparison with cycling cows. METHODS: Forty high-yelding Holstein dairy cows were enrolled for this study (20 cows with ovarian cysts and 20 cyclic cows). Seven weeks after parturation, 40 cows without retained placenta, including healthy ones were selected. Ovarian cysts were detected as follicular- like structures, >20 mm in diameter, persisting for at least 7 days, without corpus luteum and were monitored by ultrasound examination. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein and delivered to the laboratory for measurement of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, beta-hydroxy butyric acid, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, cortisol, insulin and BUN. RESULTS: In this study, when serum calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium and glucose of cows with ovarian cysts were compared with cows that had normal ovarian status, there was no significant difference. BUN, beta-hydroxy butyrate, NEFA and cortisol of cows with ovarian follicular cysts as compared to the cows with normal ovaries, showed a significant increase. Serum insulin values decreased significantly in ovarian follicular cystic cows than in cyclic cows. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing blood cortisol and decreasing blood insulin may play a major role in the formation of ovarian cyst and any detectable change in NEFA, BHBA and BUN.

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