Incidence of hypocalcemia and its changes of biochemical parameters in periparturient cows

Shu, Shi; Xia, Cheng; Xu, Chuang; Zhang, Hongyyou; Wu, Ling

doi:2012.52.1.57

Korean J Vet Res > Volume 52(1); 2012 > Article

Brief Communication

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2012;52(1):57-59.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14405/kjvr.2012.52.1.057 Published online March 31, 2012.

Incidence of hypocalcemia and its changes of biochemical parameters in periparturient cows

Shi Shu, Cheng Xia, Chuang Xu, Hongyyou Zhang, Ling Wu

College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the status of calcium (Ca) homeostasis at parturition in three dairy farms (I, II, and III), Heilongjiang, China. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows from each farm were randomly assigned to this experiment. The dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) was 91 mEq/kg of DM for farm I, 152 mEq/kg of DM for farm II, and 85 mEq/kg of DM for farm III. Incidence of hypocalcemia was above 75% and urine pH was above 7.25 at calving in each farm. Compared to other farms, cows in farm II that fed the greatest positive DCAD had the lowest concentration of serum Ca, the highest concentration of serum PTH, and the greatest urine pH at calving (p < 0.05). However, there was not significant difference in serum 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D and hydroxyproline concentration of the cows among three farms. This is the first study to confirm that hypocalcemia is very prevalent at calving in Chinese dairy farms, and the high positive DCAD is a major risk factor that results in hypocalcemia at calving, which may reduce ability of the cow to maintain Ca homeostasis.

Key Words: Ca homeostasis, cation-anion difference, dairy cows, hypocalcemia, urine pH