The unspoken truth about fresh cow recovery
The dairy industry is replete with information on the need for calcium supplementation post-freshening. However, lost in all of the calcium conversations is the discussion on insufficient overall nutrient reserves, a changing ration and the fluids lost during freshening which leave the transition cow unprepared for a quick or complete recovery heading into the demands of lactation. Delayed or inadequate post-freshening recovery can cost the dairy producer significantly in lost production or veterinary treatments resulting from metabolic challenges.
Additional nutrient support for the fresh cow recovery extends well beyond calcium and includes a variety of sources for optimal recovery.
Pre-freshening, their feed intake drops up to 30% and remains low in the first 24-48 hours after calving. This reduction in feed intake along with demands for lactogenesis puts the cow at a significant nutritional disadvantage heading into lactation. Low dry matter intake and a change in diet to higher concentrates can negatively affect gut microbiota and spark a cascade of negative health and performance challenges well into lactation. Live yeast helps buffer rumen pH by providing beneficial bacteria that work to keep lactic acid in check which can lead to improved feed intake resulting in a healthier rumen microflora environment leading to improved health and performance.
For practical on-farm application, Fresh Cow YMCP® provides live yeast plus magnesium, potassium and other key nutrients to help fresh cows recover and get back on feed quickly.
Magnesium’s Role in Calcium Metabolism and Fresh Cow Health
Magnesium is needed to metabolize dietary supplied calcium and therefore, critical to helping prevent hypocalcemia. This allows a cow to best utilize all sources of calcium. Since the cow’s magnesium level is dependent on diet alone, a deficiency can easily occur when there is a natural drop in dry matter intake such as when a cow is close-up or immediately post-freshening.
Potassium and Electrolytes: Replacing What Fresh Cows Lose Post-Calving
Cows do not have the ability to manage potassium levels in their blood stream and therefore rely on diet input, along with urine and fecal output, to regulate. Due to the tight homeostatic regulation of potassium, stores can quickly be exhaust post-freshening, leading to metabolic disorders like ketosis. Potassium is the primary electrolyte responsible for intracellular energy mobilization and utilization. In addition, it is responsible for the fluid balance within cells and for proper body function. In fact, the absence of adequate amounts of potassium (hypokalemia) affects smooth muscle contractions which can lead to issues related to retained placentas and potentially displaced abomasum. The combination of low feed intake and dehydration post-freshening leave the cow deficient and therefore supplementation is required to ensure recovery and sufficient support for cell activity.
Hydration Strategies to Support Fresh Cow Recovery
Challenges related to reduced feed intake pre- and post-freshening are well documented. What many producers tend to overlook is the fresh cow’s water intake and the negative effect dehydration has on post-fresh cows.
Research shows that water intake helps improve feed intake. However, prior to freshening, feed and water intake are both shown to decline leaving the cow somewhat dehydrated even before she freshens. In this condition, extracellular fluids are lost as well—up to 14 gallons according to studies. Add to this the fact that fluid and tissue loss during freshening can equal the weight of the calf and she now has an immediate demand to produce milk. This rapid loss in volume leaves an internal void, potentially allowing the rumen to move, resulting in a DA (Displaced Abomasum). Immediate water consumption not only rehydrates the cow, but also helps to add weight to the rumen, stabilizing it. The nearby figure shows the variation in milk yield when the cow is dehydrated vs. rehydrated. Water content is about 65% of the dairy cow’s body weight and 87% of fluid milk output.
When calculating replacement fluids, it’s important to consider maintenance requirements, environment, production needs, and fluid losses due to calving, heat stress, sweat, sickness or other challenges. By way of example, to maintain normal cellular functions a 1,500-pound cow requires 18 gallons (144 pounds) of water daily during thermal neutral conditions. Some of this water comes from their feed ration (10-30%) and the balance from daily water volume intake (usually 8 to 9 percent of their total body weight). For a lactating cow, each 10 pounds of milk produced requires an additional gallon of water over maintenance requirements.
The rumen serves as a reservoir that releases consumed water to the body fluid compartments via osmotic pressure. As cells require fluid for metabolism, electrolytes and other nutrients exert osmotic pressure in order to continuously supply the cells with fluid for normal functions. If the body does not have enough fluids then the amount of nutrients transferred to the cells (for metabolism etc.) is greatly reduced. Therefore, managing the water content in the rumen is important for maintaining both normal rumen fluid volume as well as other body fluid reserves.
Osmolytes and Cellular Protection in Fresh Cow Nutrition
Dehydration is problematic as fluid loss associated with freshening can be equivalent up to what she would normally drink in an entire day, and most cows do not drink well in the hours pre-freshening. Osmolytes are compounds that affect cellular water holding capacity and fluid regulation. Osmolytes function to help maintain cell volume and fluid balance thereby improving Cellular Energetics (assist transport of electrolytes). They also help cells maintain protein synthesis and cell division and help maintain gut integrity.
When a bolus format is preferred, YMCP Vitall® Bolus delivers calcium plus live yeast, magnesium, potassium and other essential nutrients in an easy-to-use, effervescent format for fast fresh cow support.