Comparison of ionized calcium concentrations using an Abaxis Vetscan iSTAT with a Horiba LAQUAtwin calcium meter in dairy cows fed low, medium, and high calcium DCAD rations and challenged with EGTA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20173390Abstract
Prepartum feeding of a negative dietary cation-anion difference (-DCAD) ration has proved to be an effective method of preventing hypocalcemia. However, the optimum Ca concentration to feed with -DCAD rations has not been determined. We conducted an experiment to assess the implications of feeding a low, medium, and high concentration Ca -DCAD ration on the ability of a cow to respond to an induction of hypocalcemia.