Reduced feed intake in cows after peroral calcium

Abstract

The influence on daily feed intake of treatment with 3 different commercial CaCl2-containing products and pure water was measured. The treatments were 4 perorally administered doses of (1) 1 litre pure water, (2) Ca-oil containing 200 g CaCl2 emulgated in soyabean oil, (3) Ca-capsule containing 126 g CaCl2 and 45 g CaS04, (4) Ca-gel containing 200 g CaCl2 in an ethylcellulose-gel. The treatments gave a reduction in DM intake of 4.7, 12.2, 11.5 and 16.7% respectively on the day of treatment. The energy intake was reduced about the same except for the Ca-oil treatment where the energy intake was not reduced due to the oil. It was concluded that the mechanisms causing the reduction might be handling of the cows, increase of the osmotic pressure, fat depression in the rumen, and etching effect of the rumen wall.