non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration, reduced rumen contractions and decreases neutrophil functions as compared to normocalcemic cows. They also studied the effect of normocalcemia/SCH and its effects on metritis incidences when a cow is in a high-risk situation. A high risk situation was described as a cow being diagnosed with dystocia, twins, still born or retained foetal membranes. Normocalcemic cows in a high-risk situation showed 20% incidences of metritis, whereas subclinical hypocalcemic cows showed 77.8% incidences of metritis in the similar high- risk situation (Figure 2).
Formulating pre-calving cow’s health A meta-analysis consisting of 42 randomised trials suggested that cows with cationic diets (diets having a positive charge due to higher concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) are more likely to suffer increased incidences of milk fever or hypocalcaemia. Cationic diets are one of the strong triggers of subclinical hypocalcaemia during close-up dry cow phase. Anionic diets (diets having a negative charge due to higher concentration of chloride, sulphur and phos- phorus) promote a more acidic metabolic state (lower blood pH) that is associated with a reduced incidence of milk fever.
Is your cow’s diet cationic or anionic? It is likely that most diets are cationic in nature, based on the dietary ingredients used in the diet of close-up cows. One of the main reasons for this is that these ingredients are funda- mentally cationic. Turning your cows’ diets from cationic to anionic can create optimal acidification in the cow’s blood. These acidogenic diets work to minimise hypocalcaemia by: 1. Changing the cow’s blood pH towards slightly acidic condi- tion due to increasing the concentration of chloride ions
2. Mobilising more calcium from the bones to buffer the acid in her bloodstream
3. Achieving maximum calcium supply at the time of calving 4. Reducing incidences of hypocalcaemia which occur due to calcium deficiency Kemin offers on-site pH measurement kit for monitoring uri- nary pH in cows, which is critical for analysing pitfalls after calving, as well as diet testing facilities in our laboratory to check cation status. This way we propose the most refined application of hypocalcaemia control solutions/technologies.
Solution in formulating pre-calving cow’s health NutriCAB encapsulated calcium chloride, comes with highest concentration (>80%) of calcium chloride in encapsulated form to mask the bitterness of anionic salt during intake, controlling hygroscopicity during application & storage, ensuring skin safety while handling and improve metabolic health for improved cow performance. Compromised immunity and decreased muscle tone due to calcium
deficiency can be associated with increased incidence of retained foetal membranes in dairy cows. Under formulating ruminant health programme for pre-calving cows (last 21 days before calving) when diets were made acidogenic with NutriCAB, the incidence of retained foetal membranes reduced from 28.7% to 5.4% (average of 4 farms, Figure 3 ).
Pre-calving sets the stage The pre-calving cow phase is an area of great importance that sets the stage for how well the cow manages after calving. Hypocalcaemia is known to be the main problem affecting calving. Research studies indicate that to combat hypocalcaemia, pre-calving cow diets should be acidogenic. Kemin ’s experience and strategies will help you resolve the challenges of the pre-calving process and optimise your dairy farm’s profits.
Reference are available upon request
Figure 3 - Changes in the incidences of retained foetal membranes after the introduction of NutriCAB. 60
Farm 1 50 40 35 30 28.7 20
18.2 12
10 0 Before NutriCAB 9 5 5.4
4.5 3
After NutriCAB implementation ▶ COW HEALTH | AUGUST 2020 25 50 Farm 2 Farm 3 Farm 4 Average
The start of each new lactation challenges a dairy cow’s ability to maintain the normal blood calcium level.
PHOTO: TORWAISTUDIO %, incidences of retained foetal membranes
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