Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #141741
Title: METABOLIC RESPONSES OF TRANSITION HOLSTEIN COWS FED ANIONIC SALTS AND SUPPLEMENTED AT CALVING WITH CALCIUM AND ENERGY

Author
item MELENDEZ, P - UN FL, GAINESVILLE
item DONOVAN, A - UN FL, GAINESVILLE
item RISCO, C - UN FL, GAINESVILLE
item HALL, M - UN FL, GAINESVILLE
item LITTELL, R - UN FL, GAINESVILLE
item Goff, Jesse

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2001
Publication Date: 5/20/2002
Citation: Melendez, P., Donovan, A., Risco, C.A., Hall, M.B., Littell, R., Goff, J.P. 2002. Metabolic responses of transition holstein cows fed anionic salts and supplemented at calving with calcium and energy. Journal of Dairy Science. 85(5):1085-1092.

Interpretive Summary: Drenching cows at the time of calving with solutions that supply calcium or energy precursors has been utilized as a means of supplementing dairy cattle with nutrients at a critical time when voluntary intake of nutrients is depressed. Anionic salts are used to combat development of low blood calcium in cows at calving. They have an added benefit of improving feed intake in early lactation. The question this research is based on is, ¿Will drenching of cows that are already being fed an anionic salt diet still provide a benefit?¿ Calving cows on a commercial dairy were utilized. Control cows received no treatment. Treatments consisted of 60 g calcium as calcium chloride given once, 60 g calcium as calcium chloride given twice, 110 g calcium as calcium propionate given once, or 10 g calcium as calcium borogluconate given intravenously once at calving. Thirty cows were in each treatment or control group. Blood samples obtained at calving and at day 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after calving failed to demonstrate a significant change in mineral or energy status as a result of any of the treatments. These data suggest that dietary anionic salt addition may reduce the need for drenching of recently calved cows. The results of this study will be of great beneficial value to the dairy industry.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of plasma Ca, P, Mg, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and glucose in transition cows fed anionic salts prepartum and provided with calcium and energy supplements at calving. The study was conducted on a Florida Holstein dairy farm from November to December, 1997. Treatments consisted of no treatment (n = 30); 60 g of Ca as calcium chloride, orally (n = 30); 110 g of Ca as calcium propionate 510 g plus 400 g of propylene glycol, orally (n = 30); two doses of 60 g of Ca as calcium chloride, one at calving and the second 24 h later, orally (n = 30); and 10 g of Ca as borogluconate, intravenously (n = 30). Treatments were administered within 12 h after parturition. Blood samples were collected at d 1 (parturition), 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after calving. Plasma total Ca, P, Mg, NEFA, BHBA, and glucose were measured. There were no differences in the concentrations of the blood metabolites among treatments.