Sj. Moore et al., Effects of altering dietary cation-anion difference on calcium and energy metabolism in peripartum cows, J DAIRY SCI, 83(9), 2000, pp. 2095-2104
Our objective was to determine the effects of varying dietary cation-anion
differences (DCAD: meq[(Na + K) - (Cl + S)l/100 g of dry matter) in prepart
um diets on Ca, energy, and endocrine status prepartum and postpartum. Hols
tein cows (n = 21) and heifers (n = 34) were fed diets with varying amounts
of CaCl2, CaSO4, and MgSO4 to achieve a DCAD of +15 (control), 0, or -15 m
eq/100 g of dry matter for the last 24 d before expected calving. Dietary C
a concentration was increased (by CaCO3 supplementation) with decreasing DC
AD. Plasma ionized Ca concentrations prepartum and at calving in both cows
and heifers increased with reduced DCAD in the diet. At calving, plasma ion
ized Ca concentration was 3.67, 3.85, and 4.35 for cows and 4.44, 4.57, and
4.62 mg/dl for heifers fed diets containing +15, 0, and -15 DCAD, respecti
vely. All heifers had normal concentrations of plasma ionized Ca (>4 mg/dl)
at calving. Also at calving, plasma concentrations of parathyroid hormone
and calcitriol were less in cows and heifers fed diets containing reduced D
CAD, but the plasma concentration of hydroxyproline was not affected by die
t. Prepartum dry matter intake, energy balance, and body weight gains were
lower and concentration of liver triglyceride was higher for heifers but no
t cows fed the -15 DCAD diet. Also, nonesterified fatty acids the last week
prepartum were positively correlated with liver triglyceride for heifers b
ut not cows. Feeding of anionic salts plus CaCO3 to reduce DCAD to -15 and
increase Ca in prepartum diets prevents hypocalcemia at calving in cows, bu
t decreases prepartum dry matter intake and increases the concentration of
liver triglyceride in heifers. That heifers maintained calcium homeostasis
at calving regardless of diet but ate less when fed the -15 DCAD diet sugge
sts that they should not be fed anionic salts before calving.