Use of polyhalite mineral as an acidogenic product in the diets of close-up non-lactating dairy cows

dc.contributor.authorRichardson, Emily Sueen
dc.contributor.committeechairFerreira, Gonzaloen
dc.contributor.committeememberDaniels, Kristy M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSchramm, Hollie H.en
dc.contributor.departmentDairy Scienceen
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-13T08:01:56Zen
dc.date.available2020-06-13T08:01:56Zen
dc.date.issued2020-06-12en
dc.description.abstractPolyhalite is a natural mineral that could be fed as an acidogenic product to induce a metabolic acidosis and prevent clinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows after calving. The overall objective of this study was to determine if the use of polyhalite mineral in the diets of pre-partum non-lactating dairy cows was effective as an acidogenic product. We measured the urine pH, dry matter intake, milk yield, and calcium and magnesium concentration of urine and serum in pre-partum and non-lactating dairy cows consuming diets containing a low dose of polyhalite (200 g/cow/day), a high dose of polyhalite (400 g/cow/day), calcium chloride (250 g/cow/day), or no acidogenic product. We hypothesized that including polyhalite mineral as an acidogenic product in the diets of pre-partum and non-lactating dairy cows will reduce urine pH and stimulate calcium metabolism mechanisms. We found that polyhalite effectively reduced urine pH and did not affect dry matter intake, and the stimulation of calcium metabolism was observed through an increase of calcium output in urine. In conclusion, feeding polyhalite mineral is an effective means for inducing metabolic acidosis without reducing dry matter intake. Based on these results, polyhalite should be fed at a dose of 400 g or more per cow per day to reduce urine pH.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralLow blood calcium concentration, also known as hypocalcemia, is one of the common metabolic disorders that affect dairy cows transitioning from the pre-partum to post-partum period. Reducing the dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) in cows during the close-up period is known to effectively reduce the probability of cows developing hypocalcemia after calving. Polyhalite is a natural mineral that could be fed as an acidogenic product to induce a metabolic acidosis and prevent hypocalcemia in dairy cows after calving. The overall objective of this study was to determine if the use of polyhalite mineral in the diets of pre-partum and non-lactating dairy cows was effective as an acidogenic product. We evaluated the urine pH, dry matter intake, milk yield, and calcium and magnesium concentration of urine and serum in pre-partum and non-lactating dairy cows consuming diets containing a low dose of polyhalite (200 g/cow/day) , a high dose of polyhalite (400 g/cow/day), calcium chloride (250 g/cow/day), or no acidogenic product. We hypothesized that including polyhalite mineral as an acidogenic product in the diets of pre-partum and non-lactating dairy cows will reduce urine pH and stimulate calcium metabolism mechanisms. We found that polyhalite effectively reduced urine pH and did not affect dry matter intake, and the stimulation of calcium metabolism was observed through an increase of calcium output in urine. In conclusion, feeding polyhalite mineral is an effective means for inducing metabolic acidosis without reducing dry matter intake. Based on these results, polyhalite should be fed at a dose of 400 g or more per cow per day to reduce urine pH.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:25369en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/98846en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjecthypocalcemiaen
dc.subjectpolyhaliteen
dc.subjecturine pHen
dc.subjectDCADen
dc.titleUse of polyhalite mineral as an acidogenic product in the diets of close-up non-lactating dairy cowsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineDairy Scienceen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science in Life Sciencesen

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