A low dietary cation-anion difference precalving and calcium supplementation postcalving increase plasma calcium but not milk production in a pasture-based system (original) (raw)
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2011
The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary Ca concentration affects the ability to maintain Ca homeostasis in non-lactating non-pregnant dairy cows fed diets differing in dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD). Eight non-lactating non-pregnant multiparous Holstein cows (594 ± 80.3 kg body weight; 34.5 ± 11.4 month old) were fed diets Low or High in DCAD (−64 vs. 82 mequiv./kg dry matter, respectively) in combinations with Low or High dietary Ca concentration (3.0 vs. 9.1 g/kg of dry matter, respectively) in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 14-d periods. On d 14 of each period, cows were subjected to an EDTA challenge that consists of an intra-jugular infusion of EDTA solution to decrease blood Ca concentration. In this protocol, the time required to recover to 90% of the pre-challenge blood Ca concentration was determined as recovery time. During the EDTA challenge, mean blood bicarbonate concentration was lower for cows fed Low-DCAD diets although mean blood pH was not affected by treatment, indicating that cows fed Low-DCAD diets had mild compensated metabolic acidosis. Feeding High-Ca diet shortened the recovery time (106 vs. 134 min; P=0.04) when DCAD was low, while Low-Ca diet shortened the recovery time (125 vs. 159 min; P=0.02) when DCAD was high. These results suggest that the optimum dietary Ca concentration to minimize the risk of hypocalcaemia in dairy cows is likely different depending on the DCAD value.
Journal of Dairy Science, 2009
Forages low in dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) can be used to decrease the DCAD in prepartum diet but the extent to which DCAD needs to be reduced is of recent interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of timothy hays differing in DCAD at maintaining Ca homeostasis. Six nonlactating and nonpregnant multiparous Holstein cows were fed diets containing timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hay with DCAD values of 4.1 ± 3.6 (LOW), 14.1 ± 3.0 (MED), or 25.1 ± 2.5 (HIGH) mEq per 100 g of DM in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 14-d experimental periods. The LOW and MED hays were produced by fertilizing established timothy fields at a rate of 224 kg CaCl 2 per ha, and HIGH hay was obtained from the same field where LOW hay was produced, but from a section not fertilized with CaCl 2 . Experimental diets, containing LOW, MED, or HIGH timothy hay at 71% of dietary DM, had DCAD values of 0.7, 7.3, and 14.4 mEq per 100 g of DM, respectively. Animals were fed at 6% of metabolic body weight, which provided 108% of their daily energy requirement. For each period, after a 12 d diet adaptation, cows were subjected to an EDTA challenge (3 cows each on d 13 and 14). Infusion of EDTA solution into the jugular vein decreases the concentration of blood ionized Ca, and the EDTA challenge protocol determined the resistance time and recovery time: the time required for the blood ionized Ca concentration to decrease to 60%, and the time required to recover to 90% of the prechallenge concentrations, respectively. Urine pH was lower when cows were fed LOW compared with HIGH diet (6.88 vs. 7.83), but urine pH when cows were fed MED diet (7.15) did not differ from that when cows received the LOW or HIGH diet. However, immediately before the EDTA challenge, blood pH was lower when cows were fed LOW or MED compared with HIGH diet (7.44 vs. 7.47). Although the resistance time was not affected by treatments, the recovery time was shorter when cows were fed the LOW compared with MED or HIGH diet (185 vs. 248 and 263 min, respectively). Blood pH decreased when cows were fed the LOW or MED diet, but the capability to maintain Ca homeostasis was enhanced only when cows received the LOW diet, in which the DCAD value was decreased to 1 mEq per 100 g of DM.
Australian Veterinary Journal, 2018
BackgroundAdjusting the dietary cation–anion difference (DCAD) is one of the most efficient ways to stimulate calcium homeostasis in periparturient dairy cattle. However, adjusting DCAD to the recommended negative values (−100 to −150 mEq/kg) is associated with decreased food intake and metabolic acidosis. The critical conditions of the animals at peripartum (i.e. drastic hormonal changes, decreased appetite and negative energy balance) can be detrimental to the health, productivity and welfare of the animals if combined with decreased feed intake caused by unpalatable acidogenic salts.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional study, we analysed the ration of eight small to large dairy herds with intensive husbandry systems, including 6949 dry cows. Sodium, potassium, chlorine and sulfur concentrations in the feed were determined and DCAD was calculated. The DCAD of the ration of the farms ranged from –33.5 to +24.7 mEq/kg. Parturient paresis (PP, or milk fever) prevalence was investigated and co...
Journal of Dairy Science, 2000
Our objective was to determine the effects of varying dietary cation-anion differences (DCAD: meq[(Na + K) − (Cl + S)]/100 g of dry matter) in prepartum diets on Ca, energy, and endocrine status prepartum and postpartum. Holstein cows (n = 21) and heifers (n = 34) were fed diets with varying amounts of CaCl 2 , CaSO 4 , and MgSO 4 to achieve a DCAD of +15 (control), 0, or −15 meq/100 g of dry matter for the last 24 d before expected calving. Dietary Ca concentration was increased (by CaCO 3 supplementation) with decreasing DCAD. Plasma ionized Ca concentrations prepartum and at calving in both cows and heifers increased with reduced DCAD in the diet. At calving, plasma ionized Ca concentration was 3.67, 3.85, and 4.35 for cows and 4.44, 4.57, and 4.62 mg/dl for heifers fed diets containing +15, 0, and −15 DCAD, respectively. All heifers had normal concentrations of plasma ionized Ca (>4 mg/dl) at calving. Also at calving, plasma concentrations of parathyroid hormone and calcitriol were less in cows and heifers fed diets containing reduced DCAD, but the plasma concentration of hydroxyproline was not affected by diet. Prepartum dry matter intake, energy balance, and body weight gains were lower and concentration of liver triglyceride was higher for heifers but not cows fed the −15 DCAD diet. Also, nonesterified fatty acids the last week prepartum were positively correlated with liver triglyceride for heifers but not cows. Feeding of anionic salts plus CaCO 3 to reduce DCAD to −15 and increase Ca in prepartum diets prevents hypocalcemia at calving in cows, but decreases prepartum dry matter intake and increases the concentration of liver triglyceride in heifers. That heifers maintained calcium homeostasis at 2095 calving regardless of diet but ate less when fed the −15 DCAD diet suggests that they should not be fed anionic salts before calving. (Key words: prepartum diet, anionic salts, energy balance, hypocalcemia)
Journal of Dairy Science, 1994
Our objective was to examine whether feeding low cation-anion diets altered the Ca status of the growing calf. Holstein calves (n =32; 16 males) were blocked at 56 to 70 d after birth according to sex and birth date and assigned randomly to dietary treatments containing Ca content and cation-anion balances as mi11iequivalents of (Na + K) -(Cl + S)/loo g of dietary DM of .42% and -18, .52% and -18, .42% and 13, and .52% and 13. Feed intake did not differ among treatments. Calves fed the diet with cationanion balance of 13 had higher gain (.85 vs..71 kg/d) than those fed the diet with balance of -18. Venous blood pH (7.374 vs. 7.323), partial pressure of C02 (47.9 vs. 45.6 mm Hg), and bicarbonate (28.3 vs. 23.3 mmollL) were higher for calves fed the 13 versus -18 balances. Plasma Ca and P were unaffected by Ca or cation-anion balance. Urinary pH was higher for calves fed the high than the low balance (7.442 vs. 6.047). Urinary Cl and Ca excretion was higher for calves fed the low than the high balance. Breaking strengths for 7th and 9th ribs were higher for calves fed the high balance and higher for the 7th rib only for calves fed the high Ca diet. Cation-anion balance altered Ca metabolism, but it is unclear whether Ca requirements were also altered. (IThis manuscript (93-5-48) is published with the approval of the director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experimental Station.
Journal of Dairy Science, 2001
Our objective was to examine the effects of two diets with different cation-anion differences on Ca requirements in the growing calf. Holstein calves (n = 48, 24 males) were blocked at 56 to 70 d after birth (80 ± 10 kg of body weight) according to sex and birth date and assigned randomly in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments containing cation-anion differences as meq (Na + K) − (Cl + S)/kg of diet dry matter and Ca content of 1) 0 and 0.35%, 2) 0 and 0.50%, 3) 0 and 0.65%, 4) 200 and 0.35%, 5) 200 and 0.50%, and 6) 200 and 0.65%. Feed intake and average daily gain did not differ among treatment groups. Plasma pH and Ca were unaffected by dietary Ca content or dietary cation-anion difference. Plasma Cl and P decreased linearly with increasing Ca content in the diet. Plasma HCO 3 increased linearly with increased dietary Ca content. Plasma HCO 3 and partial pressure of CO 2 were higher in calves fed the 200 compared with calves fed the 0 cation-anion difference diets. Plasma Cl was, however, lower in calves fed the 200 compared with calves fed the 0 meq diets. An interaction of Ca content and dietary cation-anion difference was detected for plasma P content. Urinary pH increased linearly with increasing dietary Ca content. Calves fed the 200 meq dietary cation-anion difference had higher urinary pH values than those fed the 0 meq diet. Urinary P excretion was not altered by dietary cation-anion difference or Ca content of the diet. Calves fed the 0 meq diet had higher urinary cocnentrations of Ca and Cl when compared with those fed the 200 meq diet. Bone ash, P, Ca, Mg, and K content of the 10th rib were not affected by dietary treatments. Breaking strength of the seventh and ninth ribs increased quadratically with increasing dietary Ca content. Dietary cation-1 This manuscript (99-07-91) is published with the approval of the director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.
Lowering dietary cation-anion difference increases sow blood and milk calcium concentrations
Journal of Animal Science, 2019
A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding an acidogenic diet with a low dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) on acid-base balance, blood, milk, and urine Ca concentrations of sows during lactation. A total of 30 multiparous sows (parity: 4.5 ± 2.9, Smithfield Premium Genetic, Rose Hill, NC) were allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments: CON (control diets were corn-soybean meal based with a calculated DCAD of 170 and 226 mEq/kg during late gestation and lactation, respectively) or ACI (acidogenic diets had a DCAD 100 mEq/kg lower than the control diets). The lower DCAD was achieved by the addition of an acidogenic mineral. The DCAD was calculated as mEq (Na + K – Cl)/kg diet. Sows had a daily access to 2-kg feed from day 94 of gestation to parturition and ad libitum access to feed during lactation. Blood and urine pH and Ca, serum macrominerals, serum biochemistry, Ca-regulating hormones, and milk composition were measured. Sows in ACI had a lower (P < 0.05) blood p...
Effect of prepartum dietary calcium on intake and serum and urinary mineral concentrations of cows
Journal of dairy science, 2006
Nine multiparous and 12 primiparous cows were fed diets containing an anionic salt supplement and moderate Ca (0.99%) or high Ca (1.50%) concentrations for 21 d prepartum to determine the effects of dietary Ca concentration on serum and urine electrolytes and on postpartum intake and milk yield. Blood samples were collected during 21 to 1 d prepartum, 0 to 2 d postpartum, and 3 to 21 d postpartum. Dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) for prepartum diets was approximately -6 mEq/100 g of dry matter (Na + K - Cl - S). Immediately postpartum, cows were fed diets with positive DCAD with greater than 1.00% Ca concentration. Mean serum Ca concentrations 21 to 1 d prepartum, 0 to 2 d postpartum, and 3 to 21 d postpartum were 9.62, 8.41, and 9.38 mg/dL. There were no treatment effects on serum Ca concentration. Mean serum Ca concentration was higher for primiparous than multiparous cows (9.34 vs. 8.93 mg/dL) for the trial and at calving (8.77 vs. 8.13 mg/dL). Mean serum HCO(3)(-) and urin...
Journal of Dairy Research, 2007
Reducing the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) has been shown to be an effective means of preventing parturient paresis in confinement systems where cows are offered a total mixed ration containing DCAD-reducing mineral compounds (anionic salts). Such a supplementation strategy is not possible in cows being group fed forages precalving, and little is known about the effect of supplementing these cows with large amounts of anionic salts twice daily.Eight non-lactating, pregnant Holstein-Friesian cows were allocated to two levels of DCAD (−20 and +18 meq/100 g DM) for 24 d, with an intensive Ca balance undertaken in metabolism stalls following a 2-week acclimatization to diet. The basal diet was 3 kg DM of crushed barley and 7 kg DM of pasture-hay. Urine and faeces were collected separately, weighed daily for 5 d and analysed for Ca content. Urinary Ca, creatinine and hydroxyproline concentration and plasma Ca concentration were determined during the period of the balance study. ...