The Effects of Supplemental Anionic Salts and Probiotic in Prepartum Diets on Milk Production and Quality and Incidence of Milk Fever in Dairy Cows

The nutritional effects of supplementing the diets of dairy cows during the dry period with anionic salts and probiotic, on some blood parameters, milk production and composition and the development of milk fever, were evaluated in 20 Holstein cattle (>3rd lactation). Diets were composed of a mixture of hay (70%) and commercial concentrate (30%) with and without supplemental anionic salts. These diets were given to cows during the 3 weeks prior to calving. Cows in the probiotic group also received 5g/day probiotic orally during this period. The cation/ anion balances of the diets were determined to be -67.77 and +130.73 meq/kg dry matter in the anionic diets and the control diets, respectively. Blood samples were collected 21, 14 and 7 days prior to calving, at calving and days 1, 2, 7, 14, 21 and 42 postpartum. Milk samples were collected on days 7, 14, 21 and 42 postpartum. Urine samples were collected 3 weeks prior to calving, at calving and at the sixth week postpartum. Dry matter intake amongst the groups was not affected by trials. Serum Ca levels of cows consuming the control diet were found to be significantly lower than those of the other groups on the first day postpartum (p