Foal Nutritional Needs

The present study was conducted on downer cows to determine the causes of disease.

At calving time the cows were monitored and dietary and blood samples were taken from 30 downers and 30 healthy ones.

Statistical analysis showed that in downer cows the dry matter (17.24 ± 2.01%), Cl (0.61 ± 0.05%) and Na (0.088 ± 0.01%) concentration of dry period rations were significantly lower than the healthy ones (P<0.05). Results indicated that downers were suffered from low level of serum calcium, phosphorus, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein and globulin and conversely high serum level of magnesium and glucose in compare to the control group (P<0.05). Based on obtained result duration of dry period was negatively correlated with the glucose concentration in downer cows. It means that cows with shorter dry off period (one month) have higher glucose level if lying down. According to the present findings many dietary factors and also biochemical parameters contribute to make a downer cow which may resolve with modifying management program.