Hematology, Serum Biochemistry, and Acute Phase Proteins in Hanwoo (Bos taurus coreanae) Calves with Diarrhea

This study was conducted to identify the useful blood variables in di-agnosing calf diarrhea in Hanwoo calves and good indicators for calf diarrhea. In 530 Hanwoo calves, fecal scores were recorded on a scale of 0 to 3, and blood samples were collected and analyzed for hematology, serum biochemistry, and acute phase proteins. Among the blood variables, 16 blood variables showed significant differences (p < 0.01) according to fecal scores. After reference intervals of these 16 blood variables were calculated, the distributions of calves by calculated reference intervals showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) and lin-ear associations (p < 0.001) in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose (GLU), blood sodium concentration (Na), blood potassium concentration (K), fibrinogen (Fib), and haptoglobin (Hp). Of 6 blood variables, the optimal cut-off values were calculated for BUN, K, Fib, and Hp, and the area under the curve was 0.5 or more: BUN (9.5 mg/dL, AUC: 0.623), K (5.8 mmol/L, AUC: 0.599), Fib (650.0 mg/dL, AUC: 0.706), and Hp (12.5 mg/dL, AUC: 0.847). These findings could be useful in evaluating calves with diarrhea and making decision of further treatment of calf diarrhea in Hanwoo calves.