Dietary constituents can affect cow acid-base physiology and uterine pH. Dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) has been shown to affect cow acid-base physiology, but the effect on uterine pH has not been demonstrated. The objective of this work was to determine if DCAD [(Na + K + 0.15Ca + 0.15Mg) - (Cl + 0.60S + 0.50P)] could affect cow DMI, acid-base physiology, and uterine pH, and second, to...

Twenty-four mature, nonpregnant crossbred cows were used in a 42-d feeding study to evaluate the effects of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) on performance, dry matter intake, and pH of blood, urine, and uterine flushing. All cows were housed individually and provided free-choice access to bahiagrass hay and a corncottonseed meal supplement. Two treatments were randomly allocated to cows ...

During the periparturient period, subclinical hypocalcemia (total plasma Ca concentration <2.0 mmol/l) is a potential problem for the dairy cow; consequently, its prevention is essential for success of fertility and productive performance. Dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) has been defined as the difference in milliequivalents of cations (Na, K) and anions (Cl, S) per kilogram of dry matte...

Periparturient hypocalcemia or milk fever is a common condition of dairy cows with an annual incidence of 5 to 8%. Feeding rations with low dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) to dairy cows for at least 2 weeks before calving decreases the incidence of periparturient hypocalcemia (Ender et al 1971, Dishington 1975, Block 1984, Oetzel et al 1988, Lean et al 2006, Goff 2008). The most likely r...

In our previous study, it was demonstrated that the administration of anion salts, which slightly lower the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD), in the prepartum period is safe and effective for preventing milk fever in multiparous cows. In the present study, several clinico-pathological constituents in serum and urine, which might be related to milk fever, were analyzed using stored samples...

The manipulation of acid-base balance has been extensively investigated as a means of manipulating Ca homeostasis and managing milk fever in dairy cows. A low dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) increases urinary Ca, blood-ionized Ca, and responsiveness to Ca-homeostatic hormones. Very little attention has been focused on the possibility of using a low dietary DCAD to increase muscle Ca avai...