An economic model evaluating the supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B12 given around parturition and in early lactation on dairy farms in Québec, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 737-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Duplessis ◽  
C. L. Girard ◽  
D. E. Santschi ◽  
D. Pellerin

Duplessis, M., Girard, C. L., Santschi, D. E. and Pellerin, D. 2014. An economic model evaluating the supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B12 given around parturition and in early lactation on dairy farms in Québec, Canada. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 737–747. The aim of this study was to estimate the potential profitability of a combined supplement of folic acid and vitamin B12 given around parturition and in early lactation in commercial dairy herds in Québec. A total of 791 dairy cows from 14 herds were enrolled. Cows were assigned to weekly intramuscular injections of saline or 320 mg of folic acid and 10 mg of vitamin B12. Treatments began 3 wk before the expected calving date and lasted until 8 wk of lactation. Within each herd, data on production, reproduction, and incidence of metabolic disorders and other diseases were recorded. With regard to the Canadian dairy industry, which operates under a supply management system, two scenarios were studied: (1) quota kept constant and (2) number of cows kept constant. For scenarios 1 and 2, eight and seven herds out of 14, respectively, obtained a positive annual net margin per cow following the vitamin supplement. The average net margins were Can$31.18 and Can$–4.86 N cow−1 yr−1 for scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. The variability of the response highlights that supplies of these vitamins by ruminal synthesis were probably different among herds and actual knowledge does not allow predicting supplies according to the diet.

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Girard ◽  
J. J. Matte

The present experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary supplements of folic acid (FA) administered from 4 wk prepartum to 305 d of lactation on serum concentrations of folates, vitamin B12, pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) and pyridoxal. In addition, concentrations of blood hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined. Sixty-three Holstein cows were assigned to 22 incomplete blocks according to lactation number, milk production and body weight (BW). Within each block, cows received 0, 2 and 4 mg FA d−1 kg−1 BW. Dietary supplements of FA increased serum concentrations of folates (time × FA, P = 0.0001); the highest concentrations were observed during the first two months of lactation in cows fed supplementary FA. The lowest serum concentrations of vitamin B12 were also observed during the first two months of lactation, and the concentrations were lower in primiparous than in multiparous cows (time × parity, P = 0.03). Serum concentrations of P-5-P and pyridoxal were not affected by the dietary supplements of FA (P > 0.1). In multiparous cows, dietary supplements of FA had no effect on changes of hemoglobin and PCV during the lactation (time × FA, P > 0.13). In primiparous cows, PCV and hemoglobin were lower in control cows at parturition whereas by 24 wk of lactation, they were higher in cows fed the highest amount of FA. The lowest values of hemoglobin and PCV were observed during the first two months of lactation. These results give an indication that supply of B-complex vitamins by ruminal microorganisms could be suboptimal for high-producing dairy cows, for example, in early lactation when fed a diet with a high proportion of concentrates. More research is needed to determine the metabolic consequences of these variations. Key words: Dairy cow, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, lactation


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 18-18
Author(s):  
G. E. Pollott ◽  
J. D. Leaver

In recent years there has been an influx of Holstein genes into the UK dairy herd, largely achieved by a ‘grading up’ process using imported Holstein semen on Friesian cows. The research reported here investigates this process using performance records from UK dairy herds.


Author(s):  
P.C. Garnsworthy

A polymer of acrylic acid has been used continuously on a number of dairy farms throughout the UK for the past five years. The polymer is fed as a gel and absorbs 100 times its own weight of water. Commercial farmers report that the polymer allows them to reduce concentrate allowances whilst maintaining milk yields. The results of an experiment with grazing cows in late lactation were reported to this meeting in 1988. It was found that the polymer did not affect milk yield but caused a significant increase in the rate at which cows laid down body reserves.There is a lack of experimental evidence to support the commercial findings for cows in early lactation and little information on the mode of action. The main experiment reported here was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding a polymer gel to dairy cows in early lactation and in vitro studies were performed to investigate the mode of action.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 197-197
Author(s):  
C A Middlemass ◽  
C M Minter ◽  
M Marsden

Through the dry period to early lactation the cow goes through a dramatic change in her metabolism. To supply the high energy requirement in early lactation fat supply from the diet and body mobilisation increases substantially. As a result, the liver accumulates fat, the rate of detoxification slows down, ammonia accumulates and there’s a reduced supply of fat, glucose and protein to the udder. This trial was designed to evaluate the response of dairy cows to product called ABN-LiFT a proprietary mixture of B-group vitamins and methyl group donors (rumen protected choline, niacin, vitamin B12, biotin, folic acid and thiamine) designed to reduce the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and accelerate VLDL export.


2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (spe) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Adriana Grande ◽  
Geraldo Tadeu dos Santos ◽  
Hilton Ribeiro ◽  
Júlio César Damasceno ◽  
Claudete Regina Alcalde ◽  
...  

The effects of farm, parity (PO) and month of parturition on milk production, percentage of fat and protein, somatic cell count (SCC), and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration were assessed on four specialized dairy farms using 120 cows. Also, the effects of MUN on gestation rate (GR) and artificial insemination rate (AIR) in early lactation were studied. The parameters of production and milk quality were similar among farms and were not influenced by the month of parturition. Farm D presented the highest MUN concentration. Concentration of MUN, percentages of fat and protein and SCC were not influenced by PO. Cows with a value of MUN between 10.1 and 13.0 mg/dL had the highest AIR and GR between days 55 and 70 postpartum and after 70 days in milk. These data suggested that MUN concentration was a useful parameter to predict the nutritional and reproductive stages of dairy cows.


2007 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 3442-3455 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Graulet ◽  
J.J. Matte ◽  
A. Desrochers ◽  
L. Doepel ◽  
M.-F. Palin ◽  
...  

Dairy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-636
Author(s):  
Matteo Mezzetti ◽  
Luca Cattaneo ◽  
Matilde Maria Passamonti ◽  
Vincenzo Lopreiato ◽  
Andrea Minuti ◽  
...  

Recent research on the transition period (TP) of dairy cows has highlighted the pivotal role of immune function in affecting the severity of metabolic challenges the animals face when approaching calving. This suggests that the immune system may play a role in the etiology of metabolic diseases occurring in early lactation. Several studies have indicated that the roots of immune dysfunctions could sink way before the “classical” TP (e.g., 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving), extending the time frame deemed as “risky” for the development of early lactation disorders at the period around the dry-off. Several distressing events occurring during the TP (i.e., dietary changes, heat stress) can boost the severity of pre-existing immune dysfunctions and metabolic changes that physiologically affect this phase of the lactation cycle, further increasing the likelihood of developing diseases. Based on this background, several operational and nutritional strategies could be adopted to minimize the detrimental effects of immune dysfunctions on the adaptation of dairy cows to the new lactation. A suitable environment (i.e., optimal welfare) and a balanced diet (which guarantees optimal nutrient partitioning to improve immune functions in cow and calf) are key aspects to consider when aiming to minimize TP challenges at the herd level. Furthermore, several prognostic behavioral and physiological indicators could help in identifying subjects that are more likely to undergo a “bad transition”, allowing prompt intervention through specific modulatory treatments. Recent genomic advances in understanding the linkage between metabolic disorders and the genotype of dairy cows suggest that genetic breeding programs aimed at improving dairy cows’ adaptation to the new lactation challenges (i.e., through increasing immune system efficiency or resilience against metabolic disorders) could be expected in the future. Despite these encouraging steps forward in understanding the physiological mechanisms driving metabolic responses of dairy cows during their transition to calving, it is evident that these processes still require further investigation, and that the TP—likely extended from dry-off—continues to be “the final frontier” for research in dairy sciences.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
H S Gilmore ◽  
F J Young ◽  
R A Law ◽  
A R G Wylie ◽  
D C Patterson ◽  
...  

Poor fertility is a major problem on dairy farms. On-farm studies indicate than pregnancy rates to first service have declined from approximately 55% between 1975 and 1982 to 39% between 1995 and 1998 (Royal et al., 2000), illustrating a decline of approximately 1% per year during this period. The cause is multifactorial and influenced by many factors including genetics, management and nutrition. Previous studies have reported improved fertility through nutritional modification in early lactation (Gong et al., 2002). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional strategy in early lactation on reproductive performance.


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