No abstract

Twenty of 60 control cows fed a "normal" diet prepartum developed parturient paresis whereas none of 37 fed a low-calcium (13 to 18 g/cow per day) diet prepartum developed the disease.

No abstract

Blood and tissue cholesterol responses were measured in six groups of four calves each fed for 24 weeks reconstituted nonfat dry fat milk in which 30% of calories was derived from one of the following: soybean oil (SBO), beef tallow (T), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and 1:1 soybean-oil tallow (SBO/T) combination. Two groups of four calves each also were fed SBO-milk plus dry feed and T-milk plus dry feed, respectively. Blood cholesterol concentration was significantly greater in SBO-fed calves than in T-fed calves. Calves fed MCT-milk had significantly lower blood cholesterol than calves fed T- or SBO-milk. Significant differences in cholesterol concentration were noted for the liver, perianal fat, and for omental fat.

The long-term effects of feeding Holstein cows plant lipids protected from microbial hydrogenation in the rumen were studied. Of particular interest were cow health and changes in fatty acid and cholesterol concentrations of milk and meat. Safflower oil-casein or safflower oil-casein treated with formaldehyde to impede microbial attack were fed to two groups of three cows as 10% of the concentrate ration for two lactations. Production of milk fat of cows fed the protected concentrate increased significantly. Linoleic acid of milk fat was twice normal, providing a polyunsaturated milk. Cholesterol of milk or meat did not increase even though cholesterol of blood plasma was higher in both groups fed safflower oil than in control cows. Cardiovascular systems showed no marked abnormalities and no differences that could be due to treatment. All cows maintained normal health and milk production throughout the experiment.