Severity of Ruminal Acidosis in Primiparous Holstein Cows During the Periparturient Period

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the effect of providing additional prepartum concentrate on the occurrence and severity of ruminal acidosis (RA) and lactational performance during the periparturient period in primiparous cows; and 2) to characterize the occurrence and severity of RA during the periparturient period. We hypothesized that providing additional concentrate prepartum would reduce postpartum RA. Fourteen ruminally cannulated Holstein heifers were paired by expected calving date and body condition score. The heifers were assigned to 1 of 2 prepartum feeding regimens: 1) a control treatment consisting of a far-off diet (forage:concentrate, F:C = 80:20) fed from d -60 to d -25 and a close-up diet (F:C = 54:46) fed from d -24 until parturition; or 2) a high-concentrate (HC) feeding program consisting of 4 prepartum diets, HC-1 (F:C = 68:32) fed from d -60 to d -43, HC-2 (F:C = 60:40) fed from d -42 to d -25, HC-3 (F:C = 52:48) fed from d -24 to d -13, and HC-4 (F:C = 46:54) fed from d -12 until parturition. All cows received the same lactation diet postpartum. Ruminal pH was measured continuously from d -5 to d +5, and for 3 consecutive days starting on d +17 +/- 1.2, d +37 +/- 1.4, and d +58 +/- 1.5 relative to parturition using an indwelling ruminal pH system. Ruminal acidosis was considered to occur when ruminal pH was <5.8 (total RA). Ruminal acidosis was further partitioned into: 1) mild RA (5.8 > ruminal pH > 5.5), 2) moderate RA (5.5 > ruminal pH > 5.2), and 3) acute RA (ruminal pH < 5.2). Feeding additional concentrate prepartum did not reduce postpartum RA. In fact, cows fed the HC treatment had more daily episodes of acute RA than cows fed the control treatment. Day relative to parturition affected the occurrence and severity of RA; RA increased following parturition and was sustained thereafter. The DM intake during the last 5 d of gestation was lower for cows fed the HC treatment compared with cows fed the control treatment, but lactational performance was not affected. We conclude that, under the conditions imposed, feeding additional concentrate prepartum does not reduce postpartum RA. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of RA increases immediately postpartum, emphasizing the need to develop and implement feeding strategies that reduce this risk.

Effect of propylene glycol supplementation on microbial protein production in transition dairy cows

“…For both diets, DMI was lower pre-partum compared with postpartum, and DMI rapidly increased post-partum. These changes in DMI relative to calving are in agreement with numerous previous studies (e.g., Doepel et al 2002;Penner et al 2007). Dietary supplementation with PG had no effect (P 00.36) on milk yield at day 15 (35.3 vs. 33.994.2 for control and PG-fed cows, respectively) and day 38 (38.2 vs. 36.494.2).…”

“…(1 ) of PG can be harmful to ruminants and can have negative effects on ruminal microorganisms (Nielsen and Ingvartsen 2004;Trabue et al 2007). …”

Effects of different dietary concentrate to forage ratio and thiamine supplementation on the rumen fermentation and ruminal bacterial community in dairy cows

“…According to the definition of experimental SARA, a pH threshold value of 5.8 was used to define SARA as suggested by Kleen and Cannizzo (2012) and Penner et al (2007). The pH values of cows on the SARA diet were below 5.8 for at least 9 h, and 6 h in cows on SARA+thiamine diet in the current experiment, this suggesting that SARA occurred in cows fed both the SARA and SARA+thiamine diets.…”

“…Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a common chronic digestive disorder in high-yielding dairy cows that receive highly digestible grain diets, and is defined as periods of moderately depressed ruminal pH, namely, lower than 5.8 (Penner et al 2007). Current feeding practices in feedlot beef and high-producing dairy cattle use highly fermentable grain diets to increase growth rate and milk production, but because of microbial disturbances, they predispose cattle to digestive disorders such as SARA.…”

Butyrate-Mediated Genomic Changes Involved in Non-Specific Host Defenses, Matrix Remodeling and the Immune Response in the Rumen Epithelium of Cows Afflicted With Subacute Ruminal Acidosis

“…The aim of the current study was to determine the efficacy of butyrate supplementation in ameliorating the negative ruminal effects induced by feeding a high carbohydrate to lactating dairy cows. In addition, since the effects of SARA on rumen physiological dynamics have been reported (Keunen et al, 2002;Penner et al, 2007), we sought to determine the effects of butyrate treatment on milk production, milk components, pH, SCFA, SCFA metabolism, the effects on NSHD and evidence for an IR.…”