Health Tech - Dairy Nutrition Plus

DCAD done right
By Tim Brown, PhD
Director of Technical Support, West Central ’s Dairy Nutrition PlusTM family of quality products
www.dairynutritionplus.com
DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT
HEALTH TECH
®
The team at Las Uvas Valley Dairy does an
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admirable job of delivering a well-balanced DCAD
diet in the close-up ration; monitoring urine pH and
blood calcium levels in transition cows; and quickly
What changed? “We started
adapting rations to address ongoing results.
to more intentionally focus
Consequently, they
enjoy
extremely
By Tim
Brown,
PhDlow fresh-cow
TM maximum value
on preventative care and
disease incidence,Director
few mid-lactation
disruptions,
Pushing
the Nutrition
limits and Plus
reaping
family of quality products
of Technical
Support, West Central
’s Dairy
management, especially with our
excellent fertility, and
the
peace
of
mind
that
comes
from
the
practice,
like
Las
Uvas
Valley
Dairy,
calls
for
www.dairynutritionplus.com
transition cows,” said Horton.
from taking exceptional care of every animal. Their
routine monitoring and frequent rations adjustments.
Thepromote
team at fresh-cow
Las Uvas Valley
“When I came back to the
efforts to proactively
healthDairy
keep does anThat’s because, if any minor hiccup causes urine pH
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job of delivering
dairy, we were in the process
the dairy running admirable
like a well-oiled
machine. a well-balancedtoDCAD
go even lower, uncompensated metabolic acidosis
diet in the close-up ration; monitoring urine
andcausing a whole new set of health problems.
of expanding to 18,000 milk
canpH
result,
calcium levels in transition cows; and
cows. But it also was a period of
Can every dairy blood
do this?
Atquickly
the same time, subtle ration or animal-behavior
What
changed? “We
adapting
to address
ongoing
extreme drought, and
feedstuffs
But one could look
at Lasrations
Uvas Valley
Dairy
and results.
changes may affect intake, so routine monitoring
to
more
intentionally
fo
Consequently,
they
enjoy
extremely
low
fresh-cow
were in short supply and
have a range of thoughts, possibly including:
is necessary to maximize the value of the DCAD
on
preventative
care
and
disease
incidence,
few
mid-lactation
disruptions,
Pushing
the
limits
and
reaping
maximum
value
expensive.
“That sounds like a lot of work.”
investment.
excellent
and the
of mind thatFor
comes
from
the practice, like
Las Uvas
“So instead, we management,
circled the especially
“I don’t have a big
crew orfertility,
an on-farm
labpeace
like they
other dairies,
a less-aggressive
approach
to Valley Dairy, calls for
transition
from
taking
exceptional
care
of
every
animal.
Th
eir
routine
monitoring
and
frequent
rations
adjustments.
wagons and started culling, cows,” said H
do.”
DCAD may be practical for the management system,
“When Iand
came back to
eff
orts
to
proactively
promote
fresh-cow
health
keep
Th
at’s
because,
if
any
minor
hiccup
causes
urine
pH
working more efficiently,
“We have too many other things that need
and still provide tremendous benefit to the cows.
dairy,
we
were
the
dairy
running
like
a
well-oiled
machine.
to
go
even
lower,
uncompensated
metabolic
acidosis
taking better care of the cows in the pr
attention to devote that kind of time to sampling
Feeding lower levels of anionic supplements – so urine
expanding
to 18,000
can
result,
causing
a
whole
new
set
of
health
problems.
we had. As we didofso,
milk
and recordkeeping.”
pH is in the neighborhood of 7 -- still can yield blood
cows.
also was a p
Canway
every
do this?
At the
time,
ration
or animal-behavior
production went up,
up,But
up, it
with
“If I can’t do it the
theydairy
do, there’s
no sense
calcium levels around
8.0same
mg/dL
onsubtle
the day
of calving.
extreme drought, and fe
But one could look at Las Uvas Valley Dairy
and is a very changes
ect intake,
so routine monitoring
fewer cows,” he shared.
trying it at all.”
This still
desirablemay
and aff
normal
concentration
were
in short supply an
have a rangeDCAD
of thoughts,
possibly
is necessary
to maximize
theapproach
value of the DCAD Mitch Horton, Jose Rojas and Dr. Mike Conner at Las Uvas Valley Dairy, Hatch, NM
Now, Horton says
the
Fortunately, implementing
does not
have including:
of blood calcium. Taking
this more
moderate
expensive.
at sounds
like a Dairies
lot of work.”
investment.
dairy has shifted its
entire
to be a complicated “Th
or tedious
process.
of all
results in less-sensitive
DCAD rations that still create
“So instead,
“I don’t have
a big crew
or an on-farm lab
like they state of compensated
For other dairies,
a less-aggressive
management philosophy,
from we circled
sizes can, and do, successfully
monitor
and prevent
a desirable
metabolic
acidosis. Atapproach to
wagons
and
do.”
DCAD
may
be
practical
for
the
management
system,
growing larger and larger in started cull
subclinical hypocalcemia using simple processes that
the same time, the levels are not so drastic that a slight
more efficientl
“We
have
too
many
other
things
that
need
and
still
provide
tremendous
benefi
t
to
the
cows.
cows numbers, toworking
generating
benefit both the cows and the people who care for
shift in dietary DCAD minerals would create problems
Intense,
routine
monitoring
keeps
subclinical
hypocalcemia
taking
better
care of the
attention
to
devote
that
kind
of
time
to
sampling
Feeding
lower
levels
of
anionic
supplements
–
so
urine
more, higher-quality milk
them.
for the herd.
in
check
at
New
Mexico
dairy
we
had.
As
we
did so, m
and recordkeeping.”
pH
is
in
the
neighborhood
of
7
-still
can
yield
blood
production from the same
In terms of monitoring, measuring pre-fresh
production
went
up, up,
“If
I
can’t
do
it
the
way
they
do,
there’s
no
sense
calcium
levels
around
8.0
mg/dL
on
the
day
of
calving.
Jose Rojas knows how quickly a “cash cow” can become a “crash cow.”
number of – or even fewer –
On-farm application
urine pH is the most important metric. That is
fewer
cows,”
he
shared.
trying
it
at
all.”
Th
is
still
is
a
very
desirable
and
normal
concentration
“Fresh cows make the most money, but they also can have the most
cows. “We’ve found that slightly
How far you choose to manipulate urine pH levels,
what tells you if you are formulating and feeding
Now,
Fortunately,
implementing
DCAD doesthe
not DCAD
have
blood calcium.
Taking this
and Dr. Mike
Connerthe
at Las
Uvas Valley Dairy, Hatch,
NM stocking density
problems,” he said.Mitch
“TheyHorton,
need Jose
a lotRojas
of attention
because
transition
lower
is Horton
better says the
and thus how carefully
they need
to be monitored,
diet of
properly,
and achieving
the more moderate approach
dairy
has
shifted its ent
to
be
a
complicated
or
tedious
process.
Dairies
of
all
results
in
less-sensitive
DCAD
rations
that
still
create
period sets the stage for their whole lactation.”
for the cows and our employees.
is an individual dairy decision.
desired state of mild metabolic acidosis. Evaluating
management
sizes can, and do, successfully monitor and prevent
a
desirable
state
of
compensated
metabolic
acidosis.
At
Rojas is a 19-year veteran and the Transition and Hospital Manager at Las
We also have less pressure on philosoph
blood calcium in just-fresh cows
growing
subclinical hypocalcemia using simple processes that
the
same
time,
the
levels
are
not
so
drastic
that
a
slight
Uvas Valley Dairy near Hatch, NM. With 16,000 milk cows, seven milking
the parlors, and more
timelarger
to and larg
helps provide an assessment of the
cows
numbers,
benefit both the cows and the people who care for
shift
in
dietary
DCAD
minerals
would
create
problems
parlors and more Intense,
than 200 employees,
it’s a place with
manysubclinical
moving parts.hypocalcemia
monitor performance and make to gener
herd’s calcium status over time,
routine monitoring
keeps
more,
m
them.
for
the
herd.
“We can’t afford to
have
fresh
cows
goMexico
‘off the rails,’
so to speak,” shared
changes accordingly,”
hehigher-quality
stated.
making sure all components of a
in
check
at
New
dairy
production
from
the
sam
In
terms
of
monitoring,
measuring
pre-fresh
Rojas. “We work hard to make sure every animal that enters the milking
comprehensive DCAD diet have
Jose Rojas
how
quickly
a “cash cow” can become a “crash cow.”
number of – or even few
On-farm application
urine
pH is the
is
is healthy, strong,
and knows
ready to
make
milk.”
Hidden hindrances
been
attended
to. most important metric. That string
“Fresh
cows
make
the
most
money,
but
they
also
can
have
the
most
cows. “We’ve
How far you choose to manipulate urine pH levels,
what
tells
you
if
you
are
formulating
and
feeding
One major monitoring
effort found tha
Most nutrition experts agree that, at
problems,”
he
said.
“They
need
a
lot
of
attention
because
the
transition
lower
stocking
and thus how carefully they need to be monitored,
the
DCAD
diet
properly,
and
achieving
the
Change of philosophy
takes place in the close-up pen. density i
some point, reducing DCAD improves
period
sets the
stage
forwitnessed
their whole
lactation.”
fortothe
cows
and our em
is an individual dairy decision.
desiredstatus
stateinofprepartum
mild metabolic
acidosis. Evaluating
Over his years on
the dairy,
Rojas
has
“crashes”
in the form of
As the team began
place
more
calcium
dairy cows.
Rojas is a 19-year
veteraninand
thecows
Transition
and Hospital
Manager
at Las
Weprevention,
also have less pressu
bloodtocalcium
in just-fresh cows
clinical milk fever (hypocalcemia),
resulting
down
that often
did
emphasis
on disease
Even a basic approach
providing
Uvas other
Valleycases
Dairy
neardelayed,
Hatch, nagging
NM. With
milk cows, seven
milking
thewith
parlors,
provide
an assessment ofnot
thesurvive. But many
were
and16,000
less-acute
they
worked closely
theirand more ti
this benefit shouldhelps
produce
noticeable
parlors placentas,
and more metritis,
than 200and
employees,
a place
parts. nutritionist,
monitor
performance an
herd’s calcium
status over time,
conditions, like retained
mastitis.it’s
And
they with
oftenmany moving
consulting
Mike
improvements in clinical
milk-fever
“We
can’t
afford
to
have
fresh
cows
go
‘off
the
rails,’
so
to
speak,”
shared
changes
accordingly,”
he
making
sure
all
components
of
a
came
in
clusters,
with
the
same
animals
eventually
suffering
from
three
or
Conner,
PhD,
from
Stephenville,
incidence and the occurrence of many
Rojas.
“We
work
hard
to
make
sure
every
animal
that
enters
the
milking
comprehensive
DCAD
diet
have
four different maladies.
Texas. Conner believed the dairy
postpartum issues that are secondary
string
is to
healthy,
strong,firefighters,”
and ready tosaid
make
milk.”
Hidden
hindrances
been attended
“Jose and his crew
used
be fantastic
Mitch
Horton,
could achieve greater
transition
to subclinical hypocalcemia.
Haveto.
a
One
major
Most
nutrition
experts
agree
that,
at
third-generation managing partner of Las Uvas Valley Dairy, who returned
success by focusing more on monitoring
conversation with your nutritionist to
Change
of
philosophy
place in the closesome
point,
reducing
DCAD
improves
to his family’s business three years ago. “They were constantly taking care of
feeding a carefullytakes
formulated
determine the best DCAD approach
Over
his
years
on
the
dairy,
Rojas
has
witnessed
“crashes”
in
the
form
of
As
the
calcium
status
in
prepartum
dairy
cows.
sick cows. Now, they actually have time to be proactive managers.”
DCAD, close-up ration, team
and began to p
for your herd.
clinical milk fever (hypocalcemia), resulting in down cows that often did
emphasis on disease pre
Even a basic approach to providing
not survive. But many other cases were delayed, nagging and less-acute
they worked closely wit
this benefit should produce noticeable
HEALTH TECH
HEALTH
conditions, like retained placentas, metritis, and mastitis. And they often
consulting TECH
nutritionist,
improvements in clinical milk-fever
came in clusters, with the same animals eventually suffering from three or
Conner, PhD, from Ste
incidence and the occurrence of many
DCAD done right
DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT
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deficient. This impairs cellular functions that
depend on calcium, most notably immune
cells and muscle contraction. The result can be
immunosuppression, secondary disease conditions,
depressed milk production and poor fertility.
Conner believes the problem is growing as percow milk production increases. Industry estimates
are that 45 to 60% of mature lactating cows
(second lactation or greater) suffer from subclinical
hypocalcemia. A recent University of Wisconsin
study (Oetzel et al.) concluded the economic cost
of subclinical hypocalcemia in a dairy herd is four
times the cost of clinical cases. The increased cost
is attributed to the greater number of cows with
the subclinical form of the disease, even though a
subclinical case costs 40% of a clinical case.
Evaluating urine samples from the pre-fresh pens at Las Uvas
Valley Dairy is a routine procedure for Maria Morales.
routinely monitoring urine pH and serum calcium
levels to evaluate its success. “DCAD” stands for
dietary cation-anion difference, and is a nutrition
strategy to lower the difference between cations
and anions in the diet sufficiently to promote
calcium utilization from bone metabolization and
dietary absorption, in the immediate weeks before
freshening.
“When I started working with the dairy five years
ago, they already were collecting urine pH samples,
and had been doing so for about 10 years,” said
Conner. “They were ahead of the curve in terms of
recognizing the value of checking blood and urine
chemistry, but were ready to take their transition
nutrition to the next level.”
Conner said evidence has mounted – in terms
of both formal research and clinical, on-farm
observations – that serum calcium level is a highly
significant factor in how well fresh cows transition.
“We’re not talking about just clinical milk fevers
in which available blood calcium is drastically too
low, and cows go down shortly after freshening,”
explained Conner. “There is growing, research-based
evidence that subclinical hypocalcemia is an even
more costly condition.”
In the case of subclinical hypocalcemia, cows
appear normal, but serum calcium levels are
HEALTH TECH
®
DCAD implementation and monitoring
In their effort to step up hypocalcemia prevention,
Conner worked with the Las Uvas Valley Dairy
team to fine-tune the urine pH monitoring system,
while at the same time focusing more on the
DCAD elements of the close-up ration.
Cows begin consuming the DCAD ration when
they are moved to close-up pens at approximately 21
days before their expected calving date. Conner uses
a combination of anionic supplements, including
SoyChlor,® to balance for DCAD. His baseline
DCAD level is -15 mEq/100 g. of dietary dry
matter.
The dairy freshens 1,000 to 2,000 animals per
month. “Obviously, we cannot collect urine samples
from every animal, nor do we need to,” said Conner.
Instead, the dairy implements the following prefresh urine pH monitoring protocol:
1. Urine samples are collected in individual,
snap-top vials every Monday, Wednesday
and Friday, 2 to 3 hours after the morning
feeding.
2. Second-lactation and older cows in two prefresh pens are sampled (the same two pens,
every time).
3. Samples are collected from cows consuming
the close-up ration for at least 10 days.
4. 10 cows from each pen are sampled, for a total
of 20 samples per day/60 samples per week.
5. After all collections are made, the pH of the
urine is simply checked with pH test strips.
6. Results are distributed to the management
team, including herd advisors, by the end of
each sample day, and also included in the
dairy’s weekly Dairy Comp 305 report.
Additionally, the dairy collects blood samples to
test for serum calcium levels once a month from 20,
third-lactation-and-higher cows that are 24 to 48
hours post-fresh.
SoyChlor®: a palatable, protein-rich DCAD supplement
When it comes to balancing pre-fresh rations for
DCAD, not every supplement is the same.
Pure anionic salts may contain the correct
quantities of DCAD-balancing elements, but they
also might affect intake due to poor palatability.
SoyChlor® allows for DCAD balancing by
providing chloride anions, along with available
magnesium and calcium. Unlike “early generation”
blends of anionic salts, these elements are
delivered via a highly palatable carrier of
high-quality feed ingredients. During the wet
manufacturing process, the DCAD-balancing
elements in SoyChlor are absorbed into and onto
the particles of the grain-based carrier at the
molecular level, ensuring that there are no large
particles or granules of anionic salts to create
mixing, sorting or palatability issues.
The true protein content of SoyChlor also
provides an important protein nutrition component
for dry-cow rations. Some anionic supplements are
higher in crude protein than others, and their crudeprotein composition may vary greatly. In blends
of traditional anionic salts and other commercial
anionic supplements, especially those containing
ammonium chloride, the crude protein consists of
mostly non-protein nitrogen (NPN).
In the cow’s rumen, complete incorporation of
NPN into microbial protein requires high levels of
fermentable carbohydrate. If this combination does
not exist in the ration, a portion of the NPN will
remain as ammonia, and is essentially wasted.
The protein component of SoyChlor is almost
exclusively true protein, a high percentage of
which is rumen undegradable protein (RUP). It is
readily digested on its own, independent of other
ingredients. That makes SoyChlor an excellent
addition to today’s popular low-energy, highstraw dry-cow diets that are low in fermentable
carbohydrates.
With SoyChlor, there also is no concern for
“making room” in the ration for the protein
component, because it delivers an anionic
supplement and highly digestible protein source,
all in one palatable package.
The nutritionist uses a threshold of 5.8 to 6.0 for
urine pH, and 8.5 mg/dL for blood calcium levels.
If pH readings go higher, he knows immediately
and adjusts the DCAD portion of the close-up
ration. Pushing urine pH to such low levels requires
constant, careful attention to details, but Conner
also believes it helps the dairy
extract maximum value from
DCAD balancing.
Ongoing tracking of bloodcalcium levels also helps the
management team make more
rapid, accurate diagnostic
decisions. Many fresh-cow
diseases like metritis, displaced
abomasum and retained
placenta can have a host of
other contributing factors
besides hypocalcemia. If the
dairy has a sudden uptick in
any of those disorders, ongoing
serum calcium data is helpful in
determining whether DCAD
levels need to be adjusted, or if
the team should be focusing on
other factors.
Results, rewards, resolve
Horton said the team
approach with which DCAD
management has been embraced
at the dairy is what pleases him the most about the
effort. “Dr. Conner can formulate beautiful rations
and protocols on paper, but it doesn’t do us any
good if they don’t get into the cows, or we don’t
generate quality information to evaluate them,” he
said.
The dairyman also believes
the program is positively
impacting both production
and reproduction in the herd.
“Two years ago, our per-cow
production was 68 to 69
pounds per day. Last year, it
was 72 to 73 pounds, and this
year our goal is 75 pounds.”
Las Uvas Valley Dairy has
been a closed herd since 2001,
and Horton said they struggled
for many years to maintain
their herd size. Now, they are
able to cull more aggressively,
because their 25% pregnancy
rate, along with strategic use
of sexed semen, is creating
abundant replacements.
“Our uterine health is better,
and the cows are breeding back
more quickly,” said Horton.
“We strive for continuous
It’s a team effort managing the pre-fresh pens at
improvement, and that starts
Las Uvas Valley Dairy. Left to right are Marcella
Aguilar, Jose Rojas and Maria Morales.
with healthy cows.”
HEALTH TECH
®