Serum lipid analyses in Korean indigenous cattle with abdominal fat necrosis

Bovine abdominal fat necrosis (lipomatosis) is relatively common disorder in adult Korean indigenous cattle. Thirteen Korean indigenous cattle with bovine lipomatosis and five clinically healthy cattle were selected and serum biochemical profiles were analyzed. Serum free fatty acids level was significantly high, while total cholesterol, serum albumin and total calcium levels were significantly low in bovine lipomatosis group. In a case of necropsy, saponificated adipose masses surrounding colon was observed and hepatic fatty degeneration and fat deposition in the renal tubules were found in a histopathologic examination. These findings indicate that affected cattle have a predisposition to deposit more fat into adipose tissue than normal cattle. Such abnormalities might lead to the development of abdominal fat necrosis with fibroplasia and possibly compress the intestines and urinary organs.