Measurement Is Management
On-farm tests to identify metabolic disorders in dry, springer and fresh cows
Dry Cows
As Lead feeding has become more commonplace with a corresponding major decrease in, clinical milk fever especially and ketosis, the incidence of more subtle metabolic diseases discussed in March’s article are often thought not to be connected with milk fever or ketosis due to no visible signs of each. However, some simple on-farm tests will reveal a lurking evil in subclinical prevalence of both.
The most relevant information on dry cows does need a blood sample being taken from a random selection of dry cows. If your vet is on farm, I strongly suggest you make the effort to run some dry cows in so bloods can be taken. Request: blood calcium, NEFA (negative energy balance – forerunner of ketosis). While these dry cows are in, test urine pH to establish ration DCAD. If DCAD is too high (high K pasture/silage/hay) it will reduce calcium and magnesium absorption defeating our goal of enhancing calcium reserves.
Springers
Urine pH to ensure our lead feed ration has correct DCAD (see overleaf). If convenient (vet on farm), take some random bloods again for both calcium & NEFA.
Fresh Cows
Drench every fresh cow with propylene glycol. This is cheap to do and works wonders with subclinical ketosis, very common in fresh cows. Follow up day three by stripping milk onto a keto test strip. If anything but a zero reading, repeat the propylene glycol drench.
Unfortunately, and despite my lobbying, our milk processors either do not test for MUN (Milk Urea Nitrogen – a standard daily test in USA), or do not publish the data. However, MUN is a very valuable guide to the degree of excess rumen ammonia (we never have low MUN’s in grazing systems). High MUN’s have an energy cost (contribute to negative energy balance/subclinical ketosis and low MP%’s), alkalise the cow’s uterus reducing fertility.
We purchased equipment for testing MUN several years ago to verify the effectiveness of Rumen Calm in reducing MUN’s to a neutral status in our trial work. Rumen Calm was clearly validated as being effective in producing neutral (12 mg/dl) from untreated cow’s readings of 26 mg/dl.
Dry/Springer/Fresh Cow Monitoring
Dry cows Fortify calcium reserves
Feed adlib Dairytech Nutrition “Loose-Lick Mineral Supplement” to build calcium reserves while the cow is not exporting any minerals in milk. The first bucket of colostrum after calving contains up to nine times the cows total calcium pool. We are trialling a very high calcium loose-lick to achieve research recommendations for dry cow calcium requirement.
Springer Cow – Urine pH test
Random check a dozen or so urine pH weekly. Simply tickle the cow below the vagina and she’ll urinate. Catch urine on pH strip and read colour for pH reading. Holstein 6 to 6.5 Jersey 5.5 to 6 Crossbreds in between. If the reading is higher than 6.8 (Holstein) increase Lead Feed grain by 0.5 kgs and recheck in a few days. If lower than 6.2 (Holstein) then reduce Lead Feed grain similarly and recheck in a few days. This will ensure the total ration (Lead Feed grain and silage) DCAD is correct and has capacity to not just stop milk fever/ketosis, but will set cows up to produce far more milk all lactation by minimising sub-clinical MF/Keto. It is of that much significance!
Fresh Cows – Milk Keto test
On day three post-calving (and 3 days milking) strip some milk onto the Milk Keto test strip and record reading (sheets enclosed). Any reading 100 or higher, drench with Propylene Glycol 200 ml to 400 ml dependant on severity of the reading (rural store). Recheck any treated cows 7 day later. Proylene Glycol will make the liver ‘work’ to address high blood BHBA. This is Type 2 Ketosis and occurs between calving and three weeks post-calving. Type 1 Ketosis usually occurs between three and six weeks post-calving and requires treatment with Dextrose as well as Propylene Glycol. Urine pH strips available online from www.animart.com “Hydrion pH paper – pH 5.5 to 8” Milk Ketos test strips online from www.animart.com “PortaBHB milk ketone test strips”
