The Rural Voice, 2000-09, Page 13Scrap Book
Supplemented
water may help
dairy cattle
Water supplementation may
help make dairy cows' transition
into lactation healthier, according
to University of Guelph
researchers.
Ridgetown College professor
Vern Osborne is working with
Guelph Professors Brian McBride
and Roger Hacker to supplement
drinking water with nutrients
during the transition period (three
weeks before and after calving).
"A cow's transition period puts
her under / lot of metabolic
stress," says Osborne.
Just before the cow gives birth
her dry matter intake decreases as
much as 30 per cent, as does the
energy available to her. During the
period, as her feed intake is comp-
romised, the cow will start to
consume more water as she
prepares for lactation. If nutrients
are supplemented in the drinking
water, clinical and subclinical
problems like milk fever, ketosis
and rumen acidosis resulting from
metabolic disturbances, can be
alleviated.
In a recent trial, the research
team supplemented drinking water
with two concentrations of dex-
trose (a high energy corn sugar),
starting a week prior to the
expected calving date, through to
21 days into lactation. Variables
measured included feed and water
intake, incidence of health disturb-
ances and milk yield and quality.
Blood and rumen metabolics were
also monitored.
Initial results indicate water is
an ideal vehicle for supplementing
energy.
The researchers are currently
altering water temperature and
adding ingredients such as omega-
3 fatty acids, amino acids and
vitamin E to the drinking water of
transition cows and of cows
entering the breeding period later
in Iactation.0
— Source: Dairy Research
Pipeline, University of Guelph
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