Relationship between Occurrence of White Diarrhea and Changes of Properties and Components of Blood and Milk in Their Dams after Parturition in Japanese Black Calves.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. We investigated the diet content and properties of blood and milk in 11 pairs of Japanese Black cows and their calves for the one month following delivery. Four pairs (group A) had been no cases of white diarrhea during the year prior to this study, and 7 pairs (group B) had been a high occurrence of white diarrhea in calves during the same period. Properties of dams' diet in groups A and B before the onset of white diarrhea in calves were as follows: TDN fullness rate 98 ± 2% vs. 110 ± 5%, DCP fullness rate 151 ± 2% vs. 200 ± 33%, and starch content 5 ± 2% vs. 14 ± 3%. Blood and milk samples were collected from cows weekly and at the onset of white diarrhea in calves. No calves in group A had white diarrhea, while 5 out of 7 calves in group B had the diarrhea in this study. All cows were fed mixed hay, but 3 out of 5 cows whose calves had white diarrhea had been additionally given 3.0-3.5 kg of corn-silage a day from 4-5 days before onset. In all cows in the white diarrhea development group, the fat content of milk increased by 2.94 ± 1.82% at the day of onset in comparison before. Serum TG and BUN, respectively, increased by 3.8 ± 1.3 mg/dl and 3.7 ± 2.0 mg/dl. Feeding cows a lowstarch diet and additional corn-silage may induce a transient increase in blood TG, BUN and milk fat, which may contribute to the occurrence of white diarrhea in calves. [5,6] were possible causes of non-infectious white diarrhea.We reported that Japanese Black grazing cows in whose calves white diarrhea occurred showed a negative energy balance, acceleration of fatty acid metabolism, and abnormal condition of the rumen [9]. Properties and components of the milk of these cows were differed slightly from those of cows whose calves did not develop white diarrhea [9]. An examination of the metabolic profile of Japanese Black cows showed that cows whose calves developed white diarrhea at a high incidence were fed a low starch diet during the lactation period, and that the capacity of the liver to excrete fats was low and the condition of the rumen was abnormal [11]. However, it is not yet known whether white diarrhea in calves is related to the magnitude of fullness in cows in terms of energy or starch uptake. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relation between changes in blood and milk in cows and development of white diarrhea in their calves.

Metabolic Profile of Japanese Black Breeding Cattle Herds: Usefulness in Selection for Nutrient Supplementation to Enhance Reproductive Performance and Regional Differences

“…Although reports exist regarding the application of examination of metabolic profiles for Japanese Black breeding cattle [9,22], most of the studies were conducted in intensive herds or under experimental controlled feeding management conditions, and therefore, might not be representative of commercial beef herds reared under various feeding and grazing management systems, especially in Japanese Black breeding cattle herds fed home-pasture roughage. We previously reported one Japanese Black breeding herd, in which all cows exhibited abnormal BUN concentrations (mean, 2.2 mg/dl; range, 1.6-4.0 mg/dl), and indicated that the routine examination of metabolic profiles in breeding cattle herds, especially those fed roughage from their home pastureland, might be a useful tool for identifying subclinical metabolic failure in the herd.…”

“…Though some researchers have indicated that the results of the metabolic profile test (MPT) such as total cholesterol (T-Cho) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) determined from serum biochemical analysis may be used to improve feeding management, detect subclinical health problems, and prevent production problems of the Japanese Black breeding herds [9,22], its practical application has mainly focused on the management of dairy cattle. This may be due to the lack of reference values for each metabolite based on blood biochemical data derived from a reliable number of samples and/or the wide variations in feeding management among herds in the same region/locality, which could ultimately affect the results of the MPT.…”

Effect of fatty acids added to the milk replacer on white scour and excretion of fatty acids in Holstein calves

“…1997). In addition, the fat concentration in the dam's milk at the onset of white scour of calves was higher by 2.5% compared to the previous day (Okada et al. 1999).…”

“…It had been observed that the fat content of the milk fed to Japanese Black calves that had developed white scour was about 2.5% higher on average on the day of the scour, compared to the previous day (Okada et al. 1999, 2003).…”

“…1999, 2003). Particularly, the longer saturated fatty acids had shown the marked increase (Okada et al. 1999, 2003).…”