Login / Signup

Herd Health Troubles Potentially Related to Aluminium Grass Silage Content in Dairy Cows.

Justine EppeSalem DjebalaFrédéric RollinHugues Guyot
Published in: Veterinary sciences (2023)
In ruminants, the main documented clinical manifestation of aluminium (Al) intoxication is similar to grass tetany. In a 50 dairy cow Belgian herd, the farmer reported excessive uterine bleeding at calving and decreased milk production. Dairy cows received a mixed ration (MR) with high Al concentration (453 ppm/kg of dry matter (DM)). Various analyses were sampled from 10 sick cows and compared with 10 healthy cows (from another herd). Sick cows presented anaemia and marginal hypozincaemia and 6/10 showed subclinical ketosis. Their urine analysis revealed hypomagnesaemia and a high Al/creatinine ratio. It was advised to determine soil pH, add salts to the ration to chelate the Al and support cows with mineral supplements and propylene glycol. A visit was carried out 2 years later and highlighted an improvement in the situation, but all examined animals presented subclinical ketosis. Grass silage Al content remained high (700 ppm/kg DM), as did butyric acid concentration (11.22 g/kg DM). Al could be incriminated at different stages: micronutrient deficiencies, anaemia and negative energy balance. However, Al was probably not the only culprit. This case report is a concern for future years in these areas due to droughts, scarcity of forage and an increase in contaminated soil ingestion.
Keyphrases
  • dairy cows
  • case report
  • healthcare
  • mental health
  • public health
  • adipose tissue
  • metabolic syndrome
  • type diabetes
  • body mass index
  • insulin resistance
  • physical activity
  • single cell
  • glycemic control