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Severity of Ruminal Acidosis in Primiparous Holstein Cows During the Periparturient Period

G. B. Penner^*,, K. A. Beauchemin^,1 and T. Mutsvangwa^*

^* Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5A8, Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Center, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada

¹ Corresponding author: beauchemink{at}agr.gc.ca

The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the effect of providing additional prepartum concentrate on the occurrence and severity of ruminal acidosis (RA) and lactational performance during the periparturient period in primiparous cows; and 2) to characterize the occurrence and severity of RA during the periparturient period. We hypothesized that providing additional concentrate prepartum would reduce postpartum RA. Fourteen ruminally cannulated Holstein heifers were paired by expected calving date and body condition score. The heifers were assigned to 1 of 2 prepartum feeding regimens: 1) a control treatment consisting of a far-off diet (forage:concentrate, F:C = 80:20) fed from d –60 to d –25 and a close-up diet (F:C = 54:46) fed from d –24 until parturition; or 2) a high-concentrate (HC) feeding program consisting of 4 prepartum diets, HC-1 (F:C = 68:32) fed from d –60 to d –43, HC-2 (F:C = 60:40) fed from d –42 to d –25, HC-3 (F:C = 52:48) fed from d –24 to d –13, and HC-4 (F:C = 46:54) fed from d –12 until parturition. All cows received the same lactation diet postpartum. Ruminal pH was measured continuously from d –5 to d +5, and for 3 consecutive days starting on d +17 ± 1.2, d +37 ± 1.4, and d +58 ± 1.5 relative to parturition using an indwelling ruminal pH system. Ruminal acidosis was considered to occur when ruminal pH was <5.8 (total RA). Ruminal acidosis was further partitioned into: 1) mild RA (5.8 > ruminal pH > 5.5), 2) moderate RA (5.5 > ruminal pH > 5.2), and 3) acute RA (ruminal pH < 5.2). Feeding additional concentrate prepartum did not reduce postpartum RA. In fact, cows fed the HC treatment had more daily episodes of acute RA than cows fed the control treatment. Day relative to parturition affected the occurrence and severity of RA; RA increased following parturition and was sustained thereafter. The DM intake during the last 5 d of gestation was lower for cows fed the HC treatment compared with cows fed the control treatment, but lactational performance was not affected. We conclude that, under the conditions imposed, feeding additional concentrate prepartum does not reduce postpartum RA. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of RA increases immediately postpartum, emphasizing the need to develop and implement feeding strategies that reduce this risk.

Key Words: ruminal acidosis • dairy cow • transition period

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