A Dairy Herd Case Investigation with Very Low Dietary Cation–Anion Difference in Prepartum Dairy Cows

摘要

During the periparturient period, subclinical hypocalcemia (Total plasma Ca concentration 0.05). Several other blood metabolites (P, Mg, Na, K, Cl, albumin, globulins, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and GGT) were also similar between groups. This very low DCAD during the prepartum period may severely compromise animal physiology unnecessarily, with little advantage over normal calcium concentrations at parturition, when compared with a less negative DCAD (- 53 mEq/kg DM). Feeding a less negative DCAD ration (-53 mEq/kg DM) did not decrease plasma Ca levels right after parturition compared to a DCAD ration of -143 mEq/kg DM, reinforcing the lack of benefit of a more negative DCAD.