Fourty-Eight multiparous Holstein cows were randomly selected and enrolled 21 days before calving to
determine the effect of feeding negative dietary anion-cation difference (DCAD) diet on prepartum and postpartum
blood minerals, calf weight and milk production. Before the trial, all cows were fed a high-forage, low-energy diet.
During the trial, cows were fed a diet formulated for late gestation (15CP, %35.7NDF, P % 0.5, and %1.2Ca) according
to NRC, with a resulting DCAD (Na + K − Cl − S) of − 50mEq/ 100g of DM (negative DCAD). After calving, cows
were fed a diet formulated for early lactation (%16.5CP, %32.4NDF, P %0.4) in feeding dairy cattle is a way to control
the sudden decrease in serum Ca before and immediately after parturition, which is caused by rapid transport of large
amounts of Ca into the mammary gland related to colostrgenesis. Blood and mid-stream urine samples were collected
from 24 cows fed on DCAD ration and 24 cows fed on non DCAD ration daily starting 24h before calving (-1day), the
day of parturition (0day), one day after parturition (+1), and second day after parturition (+ 2). Feeding DCAD ration
lead to decreased urine pH and urine creatinine, but increase Ca urine execration in the DCAD group. However, the
DCAD group showed a significant increase (P |
