Hepatic Lipidosis in Dairy Cattle: A Clinical and Biochemical Survey at Farms in Niger State

Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver syndrome, is a metabolic disorder affecting high-producing dairy cows during the transition period around parturition, characterised by excessive mobilisation and hepatic accumulation of non-esterified fatty acids. In Niger State, North Central Nigeria, intensively managed Friesian crossbred dairy herds are at risk of this condition, which significantly reduces milk yield and reproductive efficiency. This study assessed the prevalence and biochemical correlates of hepatic lipidosis in dairy cows at farms in Minna and Bida, Niger State. Sixty cows in the final two weeks of gestation and first four weeks post-calving were enrolled. Blood samples were collected fortnightly for measurement of non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and albumin. Liver biopsies were collected from 20 selected animals for histopathological grading of lipidosis severity. Non-esterified fatty acid concentrations above 0.4 mEq/L were recorded in 35 percent of periparturient cows. Beta-hydroxybutyrate exceeded the ketosis threshold of 1.2 mmol/L in 28 percent of post-calving cows. Histopathological grading revealed mild, moderate, and severe lipidosis in 25, 15, and 5 percent of biopsied animals respectively. Serum AST and bilirubin correlated positively with histopathological severity. These findings highlight hepatic lipidosis as a subclinical but prevalent metabolic challenge in Niger State dairy herds and support the implementation of transition period monitoring protocols. Keywords: hepatic lipidosis, dairy cattle, NEFA, transition period, Niger State.