Effect of dietary cation-anion balance on blood biochemical parameters and items in urine of dairy cows

Twenty cows in mid-lactation were randomly ground into 4 diets with dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB, mEq/100 g dry matter) values of 87 (control), 300, 400 and 500 to measure the effect of DCAB on blood biochemical parameters and urine index. In blood, luteotropin significantly increased at DCAB 400 fed sample, estradiol (E2) and urea decreased at DCAB 400 and 500 fed sample. However, Lactate dehydrogenate, creatine phosphokinase and total protein had a significant increase for DCAB 300 and 400 fed sample. Calcium for all treatments significantly increased. In urine, Urea and pH significantly increased, but K+ reduced at DCAB 400 and 500 fed sample. Cl- was lower for all treatments, and Na+ was higher for DCAB 300 and 500 fed sample. Urea was enhanced at DCAB 400 feed. DCAB 400 is suited as the feed for midlactation cows. (authors)