Can neutral dietary cation–anion difference (DCAD) decrease occurrence of clinical periparturient hypocalcaemia in dairy cattle?

Abstract

Background: Adjusting the dietary cation–anion difference (DCAD) is one of the most efficient ways to stimulate calcium homeostasis in periparturient dairy cattle. However, adjusting DCAD to the recommended negative values (−100 to −150 mEq/kg) is associated with decreased food intake and metabolic acidosis. The critical conditions of the animals at peripartum (i.e. drastic hormonal changes, decreased appetite and negative energy balance) can be detrimental to the health, productivity and welfare of the animals if combined with decreased feed intake caused by unpalatable acidogenic salts. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we analysed the ration of eight small to large dairy herds with int..