Effect of oral calcium bolus supplementation on rumination and activity patterns in early lactation dairy cows

Authors

  • M. B. Jimenez Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • K. A. McDougald Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • K. H. A. Grau Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • K. N. Galvao Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • R. C. Chebel Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • J. E. P. Santos Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • C. A. Risco Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
  • F. P. Maunsell Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20173336

Keywords:

hypocalcemia, dairy cattle, multiparous, Calcium supplements, normocalcemic, calving, ruminating

Abstract

Subclinical hypocalcemia occurs frequently in multiparous dairy cattle during early lactation. Calcium supplements are widely used in an attempt to mitigate the substantial negative effects of subclinical hypocalcemia on health and production. Cows with subclinical hypocalcemia spend less time ruminating than normocalcemic cows. The objective of this study was to determine whether oral supplementation of calcium at calving and 12 h after calving was associated with changes in rumination or activity patterns in multiparous Holstein cows. Our hypothesis was that cows supplemented with oral calcium at calving would spend more time ruminating and have altered activity compared with unsupplemented cows during early lactation.

Cover image of the 50th Conference Proceedings: Text of "AABP Annual Conference" with the AABP logo superimposed over an interlocking 50. Yellow background.

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Published

2017-09-14

Issue

2017

Section

Research Summaries

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