Introduction
Uterine diseases are highly prevalent in high-producing dairy cows. Metritis affects an average of 20% of lactating dairy cows, with the incidence ranging from 8% to > 40% at some farms. The major risk factors for metritis are dystocia, twins, stillbirth, and retained placenta (RP) (Markusfeld 1984; Curtis et al. 1985; Markusfeld 1985).
Hypocalcemia has been consistently associated with RP (Curtis et al. 1985); cows with any of these risk factors had lower calcium three days after calving (Martinez et al. 2012). Calcium is a key mediator in several cell processes, including activation of immune cells. In two recent studies, naturally occurring or induced hypocalcemia led to impaired immune function, which is probably the reason for increased incidence of metritis in cows with hypocalcemia (Martinez et al. 2012; Martinez et al. 2014). Interestingly, the ability to maintain calcium concentration in blood in the first three days after calving was more important than the absolute calcium concentration; the greater the drop in calcium concentration in the first three days postpartum, the greater the probability of developing metritis later in lactation (Martinez et al. 2012).
Credit: Achilles Vieira-Neto, UF/IFAS
Therefore, it would make sense that giving supplemental calcium to cows at risk for metritis would help maintain calcium concentrations in blood and help prevent metritis. In this article, we will present the main findings of a Benzaquen et al. (2015) study that gave supplemental calcium propionate to cows with dystocia.
Material and Methods
The study was conducted at the University of Florida Dairy Unit. Multiparous Holstein cows with dystocia were randomly assigned into two groups (treated or not), and a third reference group of cows without dystocia were randomly selected and left untreated. Treated dystocic cows (DCP; n=18) were treated orally with 516 g of calcium propionate (NutroCAL 100; Kemin AgriFoods North America) within 6 hours of calving and again 3 days postpartum. Untreated dystocic cows (DNT; n=22) were not given calcium. This was also the case for the selected cows that had a normal calving (NNT; n=25). Plasma concentrations of calcium were measured at calving (day 0) and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 days postpartum. Common postpartum diseases—such as retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, mastitis, and displaced abomasum (DA)—were diagnosed by trained farm personnel within 30 days postpartum.
Results
Figure 2 shows the plasma mean ± SE total calcium concentrations from calving until 12 days postpartum according to dystocia group. Surprisingly, mean plasma total calcium concentration was lower in cows in DCP compared with those in NNT (2.04 ± 0.03 vs. 2.17 ± 0.02 mmol/L; P = 0.001), and mean plasma total calcium concentration tended to be decreased for DCP compared with DNT (2.04 ± 0.03 vs. 2.11 ± 0.03 mmol/L, respectively; P = 0.08). Mean plasma total calcium concentration also tended to be decreased for DNT compared with NNT (2.11 ± 0.03 vs. 2.17 ± 0.02 mmol/L; P = 0.09). Mean plasma total calcium concentration was particularly decreased (P = 0.02) for DCP compared with DNT and NNT 2 days postpartum (1.92 ± 0.04 vs. 2.05 ± 0.04 vs. 2.17 ± 0.04 mmol/L, respectively) and 3 days postpartum (1.99 ± 0.04 vs. 2.12 ± 0.04 vs. 2.18 ± 0.04 mmol/L, respectively). Plasma total Ca concentration was also decreased for DNT compared with NNT on 2 days postpartum (2.05 ± 0.04 vs. 2.17 ± 0.04 mmol/L; P = 0.02).
Table 1 shows the prevalence of clinical diseases from days 1 to 30 postpartum according to dystocia group. Cows in the DCP group had increased prevalence of RFM compared with cows in NNT (27.8% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.009), whereas prevalence of RFM was similar between DCP and DNT (27.8 vs. 9.1%; P = 0.11) and between DNT and NNT (9.1% vs. 0.0; P = 0.21). Cows in the DCP group had increased prevalence of metritis compared with cows in NNT (33.3 vs. 8.0%; P = 0.04), whereas prevalence of metritis was similar between DCP and DNT (33.3 vs. 22.7%; P = 0.45) and between DNT and NNT (23.8 vs. 8.7%; P = 0.13). Cows in the DCP group tended to have increased prevalence of mastitis compared with cows in NNT (16.7% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.07), whereas prevalence of mastitis was similar between DCP and DNT (16.7 vs. 4.6%; P = 0.20) and between DNT and NNT (4.6% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.47). Incidence of DA was not affected by group. Overall prevalence of clinical diseases was increased (P < 0.05) for DCP and DNT compared with NNT (50.0 vs. 36.4 vs. 8.0%) whereas prevalence was similar for DCP compared with DNT (P = 0.39).
Summary
In summary, dystocia is detrimental to calcium homeostasis postpartum and to overall health; however, calcium propionate supplementation as performed in the study by Benzaquen et al. (2015) is not recommended, because it led to lower blood calcium concentration postpartum and led to no benefit in postpartum health.
References and Suggested Reading
Benzaquen, M., K. N. Galvão, A. E. Coleman, J. E. Santos, J. P. Goff, C. A. Risco. 2015. "Effect of Oral Mineral and Energy Supplementation on Blood Mineral Concentrations, Energetic and Inflammatory Profile, and Milk Yield in Dairy Cows Affected with Dystocia." Vet J. 204(2): 186–191. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.03.001.
Curtis, C. R., H. N. Erb, C. J. Sniffen, R. D. Smith, and D. S. Kronfeld. 1985. "Path Analysis of Dry Period Nutrition, Postpartum Metabolic and Reproductive Disorders, and Mastitis in Holstein Cows." J. Dairy Sci. 68: 2347–60.
Markusfeld, O. 1984. "Factors Responsible for Post Parturient Metritis in Dairy Cattle." Vet. Rec. 114: 539–42.
Markusfeld, O. 1985. "Relationship between Overfeeding, Metritis and Ketosis in High Yielding Dairy Cows." Vet. Rec. 116: 489–91.
Markusfeld, O. 1987. "Periparturient Traits in Seven High Dairy Herds. Incidence Rates, Association with Parity, and Interrelationships among Traits." J. Dairy Sci. 70: 158–66.
Martinez, N., C. A. Risco, F. S. Lima, R. S. Bisinotto, L. F. Greco, E. S. Ribeiro, F. Maunsell, K. Galvão, and J. E. Santos. 2012. "Evaluation of Peripartal Calcium Status, Energetic Profile, and Neutrophil Function in Dairy Cows at Low or High Risk of Developing Uterine Disease." J. Dairy Sci. 95: 7158–7172.
Martinez, N., L. D. P. Sinedino, R. S. Bisinotto, E. S. Ribeiro, G. C. Gomes, F. S. Lima, L. F. Greco, J. P. Driver, C. A. Risco, and J. E. P. Santos. 2014. "Effect of Induced Subclinical Hypocalcemia on Physiological Responses and Neutrophil Function in Dairy Cows." J. Dairy Sci. 97: 874–887.