The transition period (TP), which extends from 3 weeks prior to 3 weeks post parturition, is a critical period regarding the health, productivity, and profitability of dairy animals, during which most health disorders arise, include lameness, mastitis, rumen acidosis, ketosis, hypocalcemia (milk fever), left-displaced abomasum, fatty liver, hypophosphatemia and post-parturient hemoglobinuria, subacute ruminal acidosis, retained placenta, and metritis. Biomarkers are biological molecules distributed in blood, body fluids or tissues that represent physiological or pathophysiological indicators of events, processes, or conditions happening within the animal’s body. In the field of veterinary medicine, biomarkers are thought to have enormous valuable potentials in the field of clinical diagnosis, therapeutical research, surgery and obstetrical outcome. This review article aims to explore the significance of biomarkers used to predict pathological conditions and health status of cattle during the TP to facilitate the early clinical diagnosis and prompt treatment of TP-related diseases/or conditions and thus improve animal welfare, health and increase productivity.
Key words: Biomarkers, Cattle, Clinical diagnosis, Pathology, Transition period
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