Effects of short term acidogenic diet feeding on metabolic parameters of dairy cows with induced subclinical hypocalcemia

Abstract

The objective of was to evaluate whether the provision of an acidogenic diet in late gestation influences the metabolism of cows with experimentally induced subclinical hypocalcemia. Nine multiparous Holstein cows were divided into 3 groups according to the duration of supply of the acidogenic diet: G0 = without acidogenic diet; G9 = nine days and G15 = fifteen days. All animals underwent an experimental induction of subclinical hypocalcemia for 6 hours, performed after the last day of feeding with the diet. Urine samples were collected weekly to evaluate the effectiveness of the diet and blood samples were collected performed one day (-1) and immediately (0) before the induction, every hour until 6 h after the induction and at the end of 72 hours for the evaluation of metabolic parameters. During INDUCTION, G15 had the lowest concentration of CaT, globulins, TP, HCO¬¬ 3, pCO2, K and the highest concentration of creatinine (P < 0.05); G9 and G15 had the lowest concentration of iCa and higher concentration of Mg (P <0.05). In the POST-INDUCTION period, G15 again had the lowest concentration of globulins, TP, HCO¬- 3 and lowest serum pH, in addition to having the highest concentration of creatinine, glucose, and Na (P <0.05). G9 and G15 had the lowest CaT and K concentration and the highest Mg (P < 0.05) in that period. Provision of 15 days of an acidogenic diet to cows with induced hypocalcemia modulated other parameters besides calcium, demonstrated may not be suitable for animals.