To evaluate the effect of anionic mineral supplement on blood and urine parameters and incidence of hypocalcemia and retained placenta, eighteen 5 to 10-year-old dairy cows of 7/8 Holstein black and white breed weighing 440-620 kg were divided in complete block according to their parity order into two groups: control (DCAB = 46.38mEq/kg DM) and treatment (with added anionic mineral supplement anion and DCAB = -249.28mEq/kg DM). Total calcium levels and pH were monitored in urine and blood serum; TCO2, pCO2, HCO3, base excess, ionized calcium, Na, K, Se in blood; score body condition, hematocrit and hemoglobin. Blood, urine and ECC data were submitted to the SAS Proc Means (2000) with analysis of variance of 5% and Tukey test, the incidence of retained placenta analyzed by Mann-Whitney (P<0.07) and serum Se concentration by Student's t test (P<0.05), both by GraphPad Prism 5.0. The anionic mineral supplement decreased the values of TCO2, pCO2 , HCO3 and BE in blood with less weight loss, but the variation of pH and calcium was restricted to time. The anionic mineral supplement did not cause mild metabolic acidosis desired and therefore did not prevent hypocalcemia. However, by presenting Se in its composition, provided greater concentration of this serum micronutrient and contributed to lower retention of placenta.
Anionic mineral supplement; calcium; hypocalcemia; pH; retention of placenta; selenium; dairy cows
