Impact of peripartum oral administration of calcium and difructose anhydride III (DFA III) on blood calcium levels and the development of peripartum diseases in dairy cows

AbstractThe initiation of lactation challenges the ability of the modern lactating cow to maintain calcium homeostasis, and typically results in a drop in blood calcium levels; leading to mobilization of calcium reserves from skeletal stores. As such, the recommendation to provide supplemental calcium at parturition to older cows has become an industry-standard practice. Mature cows were treated at calving and 12 hours later with either the novel calcium bolus (NB), or a commercially available calcium bolus (CB). Blood was collected from animals at 0, 1, 6, 12, 13, and 24 hours following calving, and the resulting serum samples were analyzed. Overall, there was no statistical difference between the NB and CB groups for blood calcium levels within the first 24 hours following parturition (P = 0.50). Cows in both groups experienced a significant increase in serum calcium by 1 hour after parturition; however, this increase was not sustained through subsequent sampling times. This pilot study demonstrates that both boluses have a similar effect in the elevation of blood calcium.

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Evaluation of postpartum metabolic and health response in dairy cows with different body condition score during the dry period

BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE ◽

10.15547/bjvm.2019-0050 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 448-455

Author(s):

X. Mihajlovičová ◽

P. Mudroň,

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Postpartum Period ◽

Metabolic Response ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Post Partum ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Blood Calcium ◽

Condition Score ◽

Body Production

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different pre-calving body conditions on some metabolic indices, health status and reproductive disorders in dairy cows. The study was conducted on a dairy farm in Eastern Slovakia during the pre-partum period (–1 to –10 DIM) and post-partum period (1 to 14 DIM). Total of 84 cows allotted in 3 groups were submitted to clinical examination and body condition score (BCS) evaluation. At the same intervals blood samples were collected for determination of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and calcium levels. During the postpartum period the incidence of reproductive diseases, such as metritis, retained placenta, metabolic disorders, such as milk fever, left displacement of abomasum and orthopaedic disorders were recorded. The strongest lipid mobilisation (NEFA elevation), ketone body production, and blood calcium drop were determined in postpartum dairy cows with the highest prepartum body condition score. In conclusion, the dairy cows with different BCS hade a different metabolic response during the postpartum period. The overcondition was connected with stronger lipid mobilisation and calcium drop after calving. Moreover, the higher BCS could contribute to higher incidence of production diseases.

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