Effect of Anionic Salts in Prepartum Diets Based on Alfalfa

¹ Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844
² USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA 50010

This study compared prepartum diets based on grass, alfalfa, or alfalfa and anionic salts to investigate their effect on Ca metabolism, acid-base status, endocrine response, disease incidence, and lactational performance of periparturient dairy cows. Forty-five nonlactating Holstein cows in their last 3 wk of gestation were fed a control diet based on grass hay with a dietary cation-anion difference [expressed as milli-equivalents of ((Na + K) – (Cl + S))/100 g of dietary dry matter] of +30 or diets based on alfalfa with a dietary cation-anion difference of either +35 or –7. Cows fed the diet with the dietary cation-anion difference of –7 had the lowest urine pH prepartum and had the highest concentrations of ionized Ca in blood and total Ca in serum at parturition. Increases in 1,25-(OH)₂ vitamin D per unit decrease in total Ca in serum were greatest for cows fed the diet with a dietary cation-anion difference of –7. Also, cows fed this same diet consumed the most dry matter postpartum. Incidences of health disorders were 13% (10 of 75), 12% (9 of 75), and 5% (4 of 75) for cows fed the diets with dietary cation-anion differences of +30, +35, and –7, respectively. Results indicate that alfalfa, when supplemented with anionic salts, is a viable forage for prepartum dairy cows.

Key Words: anionic salts • alfalfa • hypocalcemia • prepartum diet

Submitted on January 8, 1996
Accepted on May 30, 1997

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