NEFA (Non-Esterified Fatty Acids)
A NEFA test measures non-esterified fatty acids, the fats released from body fat when a cow or buffalo is short of energy. Vets commonly use it with BHB, the main blood ketone, to judge how well dairy animals are coping in the weeks around calving.
- Sample
- Serum (plain)
- Quantity
- As advised
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), the fats released from body fat into the blood
- How much an animal is drawing on its fat reserves for energy
- Negative energy balance in cows and buffaloes in the weeks around calving
Benefits of this test
- Can show energy problems before calving, when animals may look normal.
- Helps your vet judge transition-period risk for a group of animals.
- Works with BHB to give a fuller picture of energy balance around calving.
- Can help your vet decide which animals or groups need closer checks.
- Uses a simple serum sample that can be taken during a planned herd visit.
Often discussed at these ages:Adult CowAdult Buffalo
When your vet may advise it
- Planned checks of cows or buffaloes in the last weeks before calving.
- Several recently calved animals in a herd are eating less or giving less milk.
- A herd with repeated problems after calving, such as ketosis.
- Animals losing body condition quickly around calving.
- Follow-up of a group after your vet has reviewed its care around calving.
About this test
Around calving, a dairy cow or buffalo needs a lot of energy, first for the growing calf and then for milk. Her appetite often cannot keep up. When she uses more energy than she gets from feed, she is in negative energy balance and starts to break down body fat. This fat is released into the blood as non-esterified fatty acids, or NEFA.
This test measures NEFA in serum, the clear liquid that separates from clotted blood. A high level shows that the animal is drawing heavily on her fat reserves. Too much fat reaching the liver at once can lead to fatty liver and ketosis, a build-up of ketones in the blood. Animals with high NEFA may be more likely to have problems after calving. Vets commonly read NEFA with BHB, the main blood ketone. NEFA is often checked in the last weeks before calving and BHB after calving, but your vet plans the timing.
NEFA is most useful when a group of animals at the same stage is tested, so your vet can judge how the herd is coping with the transition period, the weeks just before and after calving. Stress, handling and the time since the last feed can change the level, so samples should be taken in the way your vet plans. The report shows each value with the reference range. A registered veterinarian reads the results together with the animals' stage, signs, history and other tests before deciding the next steps.
How to prepare
Your vet plans which animals to sample and when, because stress, handling and the time since feeding can change NEFA; keep the animals calm during sampling. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.
Reading the result
A registered veterinarian reads NEFA results together with the animals' stage of pregnancy or lactation, signs, history and BHB. NEFA is most useful when read for a group, and one animal's value can be changed by stress or feeding time, so your vet may repeat the test or add other tests.
Questions about NEFA
What does a high NEFA mean in a dairy cow?
What is the difference between NEFA and BHB tests?
Should I test one cow or a group of cows for NEFA?
Can I get a NEFA test for my dairy herd in Bhopal?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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18 Oct 2026