title: Response of cattle with clinical osteochondrosis to mineral supplementation.
abstract: Since 1982, farmers in the North West province and other parts of South Africa have noticed an increase in the incidence of lameness in cattle. Macro- and microscopical lesions of joints resembled osteochondrosis. Pre-trial data indicated that cattle with osteochondrotic lesions recovered almost completely when fed a supplement containing bio-available micro- and macrominerals of high quality. In the present trial, 43 clinically affected cattle of varying ages (1-5 years) and sexes were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was fed the same commercial supplement base with differing micro- and macromineral concentrations to determine the effect of mineral concentrations on the recovery from osteochondrosis. Both supplements 1 and 2 contained 25% of the recommended National Research Council (NRC) mineral values. Additional phosphate was added to supplement 2. Supplement 3, containing 80% of the NRC mineral values, was used as the control. Results from all three groups indicated no recovery from osteochondrosis. Urine pH of a small sample of the test cattle showed aciduria (pH &lt; 6). Supplement analysis revealed addition of ammonium sulphate that contributed sulphate and nitrogen to the supplement. Supplementary dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) values were negative at -411 mEq/kg, -466 mEq/kg and -467 mEq/kg for supplements 1, 2 and 3, respectively, whereas the pre-trial supplement was calculated at +19.87 mEq/kg. It was hypothesised that feeding a low (negative) DCAD diet will predispose growing cattle to the development of osteochondrosis or exacerbate subclinical or clinical osteochondrosis in cattle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria. gerjan@deltamune.co.za.
authors.forename: Gerjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van der Veen
authors.forename: Geoffrey T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fosgate
authors.forename: Frederick K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Botha
authors.forename: Heinz H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.forename: Lubbe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prozesky
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000652:urine; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055034:Osteochondrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals