What is dietary cation anion difference?

What is dietary cation anion difference?

The dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) of the ration fed to cows affects production and health of dairy cows. The DCAD is determined by the charge balance of the major cations (K and Na) and anions (Cl and S) in the diet.

What is anionic diet?

If prepartum diets are high in calcium or potassium, consider an anionic salt program in the close-up dry-cow ration. Anionic salts are minerals with a high proportion of anions. Anions are negatively charged; cations are positively charged. Living tissue maintains a balance of anions and cations to achieve neutrality.

What is milk fever cow?

Milk fever is a metabolic disorder caused by insufficient calcium, commonly occurring around calving. Milk fever, or hypocalcaemia, is when the dairy cow has lowered levels of blood calcium. Milk fever generally occurs within the first 24 hours post-calving, but can still occur two to three days post-calving.

How is Dcad value calculated?

The DCAD equation most often applied in the field equals: milliequivalents (meq) [(%K divided by 0.039) + (%Na divided by 0.023)] – [(%Cl divided by 0.0355) + (%S divided by 0.016)]/100 grams of dietary dry matter (DM).

What does the term dry cow mean?

A dry cow is a cow which isn’t been milked for a couple of months. This is a deliberate rest period given to all dairy cows to recover and recuperate. Treatment and management of dairy cows during this period of inactivity is termed as Dry Cow Therapy(DCT).

What is mastitis in cattle?

Mastitis in cows is one of the most common diseases plaguing the dairy industry. Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused from trauma or an infection, leading to abnormal and decreased milk production.

What is ketosis in cattle?

Ketosis is a metabolic disease that occurs when the cow is in severe state of negative energy balance. In early lactation, all cows are in a state of negative energy balance; however, the magnitude of this can vary.

How do DCAD diets work?

Acidogenic diets and calcium metabolism Feeding a negative DCAD diet results in more of these negatively charged ions being absorbed into the blood, creating a compensated metabolic acidosis, where urine pH is significantly reduced, while blood pH is maintained in a safe range.

What is calcium bolus?

Milk fever prevention with a calcium bolus Our calcium bolus Calcitop is a fast-acting calcium supplement designed to solve a calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia) around calving. This deficiency will cause a lower feed intake and milk production and could potentially lead to (subclinical) milk fever.

What is a wet cow?

Cows freshen after a calf’s birth. Freshening occurs when milk production begins. She’s then a “wet” cow, as opposed to “dry,” non-milk-producing animal. Although nature intends the milk for the newborn calf, that’s not the typical human use.