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Influence of Transition Diets on Occurrence of Subclinical Laminitis in Holstein Dairy Cows^*

¹ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and
² Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610
³ 482 Flats Road, Wondai 4606, Queensland, Australia
⁴ 5514 Woodberry Rd, Durham, NC 27707

Corresponding author: A. Donovan; e-mail: donovana{at}mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.

Pre- and postpartum diets varying in energy and fiber were studied for effects on subclinical laminitis in Holstein cows. Also, ruminal acidosis was examined relative to sole hemorrhages and ulcers. Cows (n = 98) were assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block. Diets high in net energy of lactation (NE_L) and low fiber were classified as high NE_L, whereas low NE_L and higher fiber were defined as low NE_L. Two diets were fed for 3 wk before calving and 2 others fed for 3 wk postpartum resulting in 4 treatment combinations: high NE_L, low NE_L; high NE_L, high NE_L; low NE_L, low NE_L; and low NE_L, high NE_L. Levels of NE_L (Mcal/kg DM), percentage of acid detergent fiber, and percentage of neutral detergent fiber for low NE_L vs. high NE_L prepartum diets, were 1.51, 30.2, 47.2 vs. 1.65, 23.4, 39.8, respectively, and 1.70, 22.4, 36.8 vs. 1.77, 17.5, 31.4 for low NE_L vs. high NE_L lactating diets, respectively. A single diet was fed after 21 d in milk (DIM). Measures of hoof discoloration, hemorrhage, and/or ulcer formation were done at about 45 d before calving, and near 28 and 70 DIM. Rumenocentesis was performed 14 d before calving and at 8, 22, and 70 DIM. Hoof scores among treatments were similar at 28 DIM. The low NE_L, high NE_L group had less desirable hoof scores than high NE_L, high NE_L, or low NE_L, low NE_L groups from 55 to 75 DIM. Rumen pH did not differ by treatment before calving. The lowest postpartum rumen pH was significantly lower and rates of ruminal acidosis (pH 5.8) at 8 and 22 DIM were higher for groups fed high NE_L after calving. No direct relationship between low postpartum rumen pH and hoof scores on individual cows was found. Low NE_L before calving and high NE_L right after calving may increase risk of subclinical laminitis if not carefully managed.

Key Words: subclinical laminitis • dairy cow • transition diets

Abbreviation key: HS0, HS1, HS2 = hoof scoring at means of 45 d before (HS0) and 30 (HS1) or 78 d (HS2) after calving, SL = subclinical laminitis

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