Comparison of Glucose Levels in Blood Samples Taken from Coccygeal, Jugular and Mammary Vein of Cows in Lactation

Abstract

Blood glucose level is one of the most commonly used parameters in assessing the energy metabolism in dairy cows. The presented study aimed to compare the glucose concentrations in blood samples taken from the coccygeal vein, jugular vein, and mammary vein from the same animals at the same time. Healthy Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=25) in their second and third lactation were selected for the study. The blood samples were taken from the coccygeal vein, jugular vein, and V. subcutanea abdominis (mammary vein) at the same time from each animal. To analyze blood glucose, Free Style Optium Blood Glucose Test Strip (Abbott, Istanbul, TURKIYE) was used. In comparison to the blood taken from both the jugular vein and coccygeal vein, glucose levels in blood samples taken from the mammary vein were significantly low (P<0.001). As a result, the determination of glucose levels in blood samples taken from the mammary veins may cause erroneous interpretations. Therefore, the mammary vein for blood glucose must not be used as a sampling site.