Effect of postpartum administration of calcium salts and glucose precursors on serum calcium and ketone bodies in dairy cows.

Subclinical hypocalcemia and ketosis are common diseases in mostly dairy cows in the first days postpartum, increasing the risk for other diseases and decreasing milk production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of postpartum administration of calcium salts and glucose precursors on the concentration of serum calcium and ketone bodies in milk of multiparous dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein cows with two to four calvings and body condition from 3.25 to 3.75 points were utilized and randomized into three groups. Cows of the Group 1 (n = 5) received 700 g of calcium propionate diluted in 10 L of water by a esophageal pump system between 1 and 2 h after calving. Cows of the Group 2 (n = 6) were treated intravenously with 500 mL of calcium borogluconate solution (23%) and 500 mL of propylene glycol as an oral drench. The control Group (n = 5) did not receive any treatment. Blood samples were collected 1 to 2 h after calving (before treatment) and two more samples 12 and 24 h after calving for determination of calcium in serum. Levels of p-hydroxybutyrate were assessed in milk at days 3, 7 and 10 postpartum. The results were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures. There were no significant differences in serum concentration of calcium between treatments (F2,13 = 1.0488, P = 0.3782). A significant difference in milk production was found among treatments (F2,13 = 4.1338, P = 0.0408) at days 10 and 60 postpartum. The significant difference in the proportion of cases of subclinical ketosis was registered between groups 1 and 2 (chi square = 5.238; P = 0.0455). Oral administration of 700 g of calcium propionate 1 to 2 h postpartum, does not increase serum calcium concentration, reduces frequency of subclinical ketosis and can increase milk production. La hipocalcemia subclinica y la cetosis subclinica se presentan en la mayoria de las vacas lecheras en los primeros dias posparto, esto ultimo aumenta el riesgo de otras enfermedades y disminuye la produccion lactea. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la administracion de sales de calcio y precursores de glucosa sobre la concentracion serica de calcio y de cuerpos cetonicos en leche de vacas lecheras multiparas posparto. Se utilizaron 16 vacas de la raza Holstein de dos a cuatro partos, con condicion corporal entre 3.25 a 3.75 puntos, las cuales se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en tres grupos. De 1 a 2 h despues del parto, las vacas del Grupo 1 (n = 5) recibieron 700 g de propionato de calcio disuelto en 10 L de agua mediante una sonda esofagica y una bomba manual. A las vacas del Grupo 2 (n = 6) se les administro, via intravenosa, 500 mL de una solucion de borogluconato de calcio a 23% y 500 mL de propilenglicol via oral. Las vacas del Grupo 3 (testigo n = 5) no recibieron tratamiento. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre de 1 a 2 h despues del parto (antes del tratamiento) y luego se tomaron otras dos muestras a las 12 y 24 h, en las que se determino la concentracion serica de calcio. A los tres, siete y 10 dias posparto se determino la concentracion de P-hidroxibutirato en leche. Los resultados fueron analizados por medio de analisis de varianza multivariado para un diseno de mediciones repetidas. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la concentracion serica de calcio entre los tratamientos (F2,13 = 1.0488, P = 0.3782). En la produccion de leche, a los 10 y 60 dias posparto, se encontro diferencia significativa entre los tratamientos (F2,1 3 = 4.1338, P = 0.0408). Se encontro diferencia significativa entre la proporcion de casos de cetosis entre los grupos 1 y 2 (Ji cuadrada = 5.238; P = 0.0455). La administracion oral de 700 g de propionato de calcio 1 a 2 h posparto no aumenta la concentracion serica de calcio, reduce la frecuencia de cetosis subclinica y puede aumentar la produccion de leche.