Influence of dietary protein on susceptibility to alert downer syndrome.
Fifty-three dry cows of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center dairy herd were placed in one of four groups for the entire dry period. All received a corn silage-concentrate ration. Groups 1 and 2, however, were maintained on an intake of 8% crude protein while groups 3 and 4 received .65% of their dry matter as calcium and .29% as phosphorus while group 2 received .70% calcium and .70% phosphorus and group 4 received .66% calcium and .65% phosphorus. Animals were bled through the dry period at regular intervals and within 6 h postfreshening or prior to initiation of any therapy. In groups 3 and 4 metabolic disturbance occurred in 69.2% of calvings. These included eight alert downer cows, six of which died during treatment. In groups 1 and 2, the incidence of metabolic disturbance was 7.14% with no downer cows. Blood constituents showed no significant differences except between groups for urea nitrogen of plasma. Individual animals showed no significant changes in blood constituents indicative of a cause of the disorder. Dietary protein influences incidence of the disease. Dietary mineral imbalance and clinical expression of the downer condition were unrelated.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012820:Silage; D013577:Syndrome / Q000662:veterinary; D003313:Zea mays
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010758:Phosphorus