The Cutting Edge - Article 23 - Disease and removal implications from a new classification system for Subclinical Hypocalcemia

Operators To OWNERS

Association of transient, persistent, or delayed subclinical hypocalcemia with early lactation disease, removal, and milk yield in Holstein cows

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Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(19)30971-3/fulltext

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Big Take Away #1: The subclinical hypocalcemic (SCH) state of the post-paturm cow is better described by four states; normal calcemic, transient, persistent and delayed. Each state represents a different metabolic response to the demands of lactation and an increase or decrease in disease and removal incidence as well as production outcome.

Big Take Away #2: Primiparous dams undergoing a persistent SCH state were 4x more likely to undergo a health or removal event vs normal calcemic while multiparous dams were almost 2x more likely.

Similarly, primiparous dams undergoing a delayed SCH state were 3x more likely to undergo a health or removal event vs normal calcemic dams while multiparous dams were again 2x more likely.

Big Take Away #3: The transient SCH state is associated with 5.5 more lbs per day of milk production in first lactation animals and 12.1 more lbs per day of milk production in second and greater animals.

This state represents a cow that is metabolically well adapted and is experiencing a natural calcium suppression due to production demands that the body responds too.

Ultimate Message: This study expands our understanding of SCH and it’s different states. By understanding that there is a subpopulation of cows that naturally undergo this state but can still produce above their peers we are better able to create targeted therapies and better identify cows that could be potential problems down the road.

Association of transient, persistent, or delayed subclinical hypocalcemia with early lactation disease, removal, and milk yield in Holstein cows

Published by J. A. A. Mc Art, R. C. Neves

Location: New York, researchers form Cornell and Purdue

Objective: Our objective was to assess the association of early postpartum Ca status group, classified as normocalcemia (NC), transient SCH (tSCH), persistent SCH (pSCH), or delayed SCH (dSCH), with early lactation disease diagnosis, culling, and milk yield. A secondary objective was to assess changes in blood BHB and plasma fatty acid concentrations in the first 10 DIM between cows in different early postpartum Ca status groups.