| Autor: |
Eppe J; Clinical Department of Production Animals, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health Research Unit (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A-7D, 4000 Liège, Belgium., Djebala S; Clinical Department of Production Animals, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health Research Unit (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A-7D, 4000 Liège, Belgium.; Murphy and Leslie Veterinary Center (Private Practice), Muckerstaff Granard, N39AN52 Co Longford, Ireland., Rollin F; Clinical Department of Production Animals, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health Research Unit (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A-7D, 4000 Liège, Belgium., Guyot H; Clinical Department of Production Animals, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health Research Unit (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A-7D, 4000 Liège, Belgium. |
| Abstrakt: |
In ruminants, the main documented clinical manifestation of aluminium (Al) intoxication is similar to grass tetany. In a 50 dairy cow Belgian herd, the farmer reported excessive uterine bleeding at calving and decreased milk production. Dairy cows received a mixed ration (MR) with high Al concentration (453 ppm/kg of dry matter (DM)). Various analyses were sampled from 10 sick cows and compared with 10 healthy cows (from another herd). Sick cows presented anaemia and marginal hypozincaemia and 6/10 showed subclinical ketosis. Their urine analysis revealed hypomagnesaemia and a high Al/creatinine ratio. It was advised to determine soil pH, add salts to the ration to chelate the Al and support cows with mineral supplements and propylene glycol. A visit was carried out 2 years later and highlighted an improvement in the situation, but all examined animals presented subclinical ketosis. Grass silage Al content remained high (700 ppm/kg DM), as did butyric acid concentration (11.22 g/kg DM). Al could be incriminated at different stages: micronutrient deficiencies, anaemia and negative energy balance. However, Al was probably not the only culprit. This case report is a concern for future years in these areas due to droughts, scarcity of forage and an increase in contaminated soil ingestion. |
