Close-up diet DCAD, urine pH, and total plasma calcium at calving on a commercial Jersey herd

Abstract

Inducing a compensated metabolic acidosis by feeding anionic salts in close-up cows has been shown by some researchers to be a useful strategy for milk fever prevention. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the daily variability of the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) in close-up diets; 2) evaluate the daily variability of urine pH and the proportion of cows that were properly acidified based on urine pH; 3) determine if acidification levels were maintained as parturition approached; 4) investigate the relationship between DCAD level and urine pH; and 5) evaluate the association between urine pH days prior to calving and postpartum calcium concentration on a commercial Jersey herd.