The wellness ofdairy cowsafter yield nascency plays a big factor in the quantity and quality of themilkthe cows create . Now researchers at the University of Missouri have found that subclinical hypocalcemia , the condition of having humble level of atomic number 20 in the blood that occurs in many cattle after giving nascency , is touch on to higher level of fat in the liver . John Middleton , a prof in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine , say these higher levels of fat are often precursors to future health job in cows .
“ We find that about 50 percent of dairy cattle suffered subclinical hypocalcemia and subsequent in high spirits tier of fat in the liver after give birth to their calves , ” Middleton says . “ These higher stratum of fat in the liver are often tie to health problem in dairy oxen , include increase risk for womb and mammary infections , as well as ketosis , which is a condition that result in the cow expending more energy than they are taking in through theirdiet . All of these conditions can decrease the amount of milk these dairy farm cows will produce . ”
Middleton , along with Jim Spain , MU vice provost for undergraduate studies and professor of dairy farm alimentation in the MU College of Agriculture , Food and Natural Resources , studied 100 dairy cows over two years to set how subclinical hypocalcemia affected the health of the cows after they gave birth . old inquiry done at MU has line up that these issues also have a negative impact on cow fertility and reproduction . While the investigator did n’t find any verbatim links to health problems , they say correlation with higher levels of fatness in the liver call for further research into the health implications of low rip - calcium point .
Dairy cows start producing milk after apply birth , and continue for 11 to 12 month until they are “ dry off ” by a dairy farmer about 45 to 60 days before their next calving . To maximize the wellness of the dairy farm moo-cow and the amount of lineament Milk River they give rise , Middleton recommends paying faithful attention to dietary management in the late juiceless / early lactating period , as well as providing auxiliary sources of atomic number 20 during early suckling for cattle at hazard for subclinical hypocalcemia .
“ Because our subject field suggests some potential risks for wellness issues in dairy cows with subclinical hypocalcemia , it is of import for dairy Fannie Farmer to monitor these levels in their moo-cow , ” Middleton says . “ For herds live a high relative incidence of subclinical hypocalcemia around the time of calving , sum up anionic salts to their diets or providing calcium solutions orally or by injection at the time of calving could be beneficial to their overall wellness and productivity . ”
This field was published in theJournal of Dairy Scienceand was a featured clause take by the journal ’s editor program - in - tribal chief in the November 2013 issue . Collaborators on this study admit : William Chamerlin , former student and graduate of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine ; Gayle Johnson , a prof in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine ; Mark Ellersieck , a research prof in the MU College of Agriculture , Food and Natural Resources ; and Patrick Pithua , an assistant professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine .
