Field trail for applications of cation-anion difference in close-up cow rations and its relation to postartum problems

Abstract EN

This work was aimed to study the effect of an anionic salt (ammonium chloride and calcium chloride) supplementation to the transitional cow diets ( DCAD -78 meq / kg, DM) on the occurrence of milk fever merits retained placenta, displaced abomasum and related changes occurred in the plasma calcium and urine pH, in addition to the activity of cow post calving.

Three-thousand and five hundred and ninety multiparous Holstein Friesian cows, aged 52 ± 10 months, weighed 650 ± 25 kg, were used in this experiment.

Animals were blocked based on parity (2nd, 3rd, and more) and expected date of calving.

During the 1st year of the experimental period (control period), from the calved cows, data of 1148 (distributed into 3 farms), and 661 cows (distributed into2 farms), were recorded daily (occurrence of milk fever, merits, retained placenta and displaced abomasum), during summer and winter seasons, respectively.

During the 2nd year (anion salt supplementation period), from the calved cows, data of 1070 (distributed into 3 farms in which the experiment was conducted in the first year), and 711 cows (distributed into 2 farms), the same data were recorded daily during the first year as well as the second year.

Field Trail For Applications Of Cation-Anion Difference In … Waeer, M.A., Bakr., et.

Al-Kafr El-Sheikh Vet.

Med.J.

Vol.

1 No.1 (2003) Cows supplemented with anionic salts, (at a rate to decrease DCAD to -78 meq / kg DM) had higher blood calcium content, one week before calving and on the first day of calving than did supplemented cows (6.9 and 7.2 vs.

8 and 8.5 mg / dl at the first day of calving ; Lower values of urine pH, decreased from 7.6 and 7.2 to 5.95 and 5.8 ; lower occurrence of milk fever (3.8 and 2.7 vs.

0 and 0.37 % ; lower occurrence of metritis, (decreased from 10.4 and 12.6 vs.

8.2 and 7.7 % ;) and lower occurrence of retained placenta, (decreased from 14.83 and 11.1 vs.

8.44 and 6.88 %) for summer and winter season, respectively.

In conclusion, alteration of dietary cation-anion difference to -78 meq / kg DM, in transition cow diets, had a beneficial effect in minimization of nutritionally production related diseases (milk fever, metritis, and retained placenta).