THE EFFECTS OFORALADMINISTRATION OF SOLUTION CONTAININGMINERALS AND ORGANIC SUBSTANCES IN PARTURIENTDAIRYCOWS AND THE PREVENTION OFMINERALDEFICIENCYANDNEGATIVE ENERGYBALANCE

Negative energy balance and mineral deficiency are the most important metabolic disorders in fresh dairy cows. In order to evaluate the effect of the feeding of solution (LICVITE®) containing minerals (calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) and organic substances (propylene glycol and niacin) in parturient dairy cows, 30 cows were examined in a dairy farm with 500 milking dairy cows. 500 ml of Licvite syrup was fed to 15 dairy cows one hour post partum, and once again 14 hours after calving (treatment group). Fifteen parturient dairy cows, almost at the same physical situation as the treatment group, did not receive any substances after calving and were chosen as the control group. Jugular blood samples were taken from two groups as follow: 12- 15 days before parturition; 14 and 24 hours after calving; and, 10 days after parturition. Analysis of sera showed that the mean serum concentration of calcium in the treatment group at 24 hours after parturition, and mean serum concentration of phosphorous in all the measured times after parturition, were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). After parturition it was noticed that there was a decreased level of BHBA and NEFAin the cows in the treatment group. The differences, however, were not statistically significant. The results of present study showed that oral administration of a solution containing mineral and organic substances, to dairy cows during the first day after parturition, had a very significant effect on the prevention of subclinical mineral deficiency and the negative energy balance.