Epidemiology of Parturient Paresis: Predisposing Factors with Emphasis on Dry Cow Feeding and Management

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Dry cow feeding and management were examined for predisposing factors for parturient paresis in 1983 Holstein cows from New York [USA] Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative records, monthly technician visits to 31 farms, and questionnaires. Variables estimated were transmitting ability, season of calving, lactation number, parturient paresis, estimated potential hours per day of exercise, and estimated nutrient intakes (protein, Ca, P and energy) during the preceding dry period. Nutrient intakes were estimated by farmers for the average dry cow (season dependent) in their herd for the early (.gtoreq. 3 wk prepartum) and late portions of the dry period. Intakes were percentages of National Research Council requirements for a 550 kg dry cow in the last 2 mo. of gestation. Nutrient intakes were coded by ranking the herds by percentage of each requirement. Codes represented the approximate lower 1/3, middle 1/3 and top 1/3 of the herds. Individuals cows were assigned their herd nutrition codes by their season of calving. For stepwise discriminant analysis, the group variable was parturient paresis (94 cases, 1889 controls). As lactation number (most important) and estimated transmitting ability (2nd most important) increased, incidence of parturient paresis increased. Parturient paresis was reduced with high dietary protein fed during the early stage of the dry period, with low P and high energy (lead feeding) closer to calving, and with decreased opportunity for exercises. Most cows were overfed Ca, especially in the late stage of the dry period, but Ca intake was not important when P was low.