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A team at Edinburgh University have recently published their findings
from blood samples taken from 35,500 dairy cows over five years.
The energy status was found inadequate in 70% early lactation,
57% of mid lactation and 58% of cows in transition.
16% of cows in early lactation and 20% in mid lactation showed
evidence of deficiency of effective rumen degradable protein. In
contrast, inadequate levels of magnesium, phosphate, copper, selenium
and iodine were uncommon. The transition period was identified as
the biggest constraint on production. Nutritional problems were
most commonly associated with poor feed management rather than the
formulation of the rations.
This underlines that energy deficiency is the most important cause
of problems in dairy cattle and this is most important in cows around
calving. It also shows that diets can be perfect on paper but if
there isn’t enough trough space and feed is not truly ad lib,
problems can still occur.
Metabolic profiles are useful tools for monitoring the nutritional
status of cattle. If your herd’s yields or fertility is disappointing,
we can help along with your nutritionist to pin point the source
of the problem
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