Lactational performance of dairy cattle
AssigneeChurch & Dwight Co., Inc.
InventorsElliot Block, William K. Sanchez, Kenneth R. Cummings
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Abstract
This invention provides a feedstock for improving the lactational performance of dairy cows. An essential feature of the feedstock is a dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) with a value between about 20-60 meq/100 g dietary DM. Other essential features of the feedstock are an atomic ratio of potassium:sodium between about 1-5:1, and a weight ratio of potassium:magnesium between about 3-5:1.
Claims17
A method for improving the lactational performance of a dairy cow which comprises feeding a lactating cow with a feedstock having a prescribed content of macromineral nutrients;
- wherein the relative proportions of macrominerals in the feedstock are defined as a dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) which corresponds to the equation:
- DCAD=meq(Na++K+)−(Cl−+SO4−2)/100 g dietary DM
- where meq is milliequivalents, Na is sodium cations, K is potassium cations, Cl is chloride anions, SO4 is sulfate anions, and DM is dry matter;
- wherein DCAD has a value between about 20-60 meq/100 g dietary DM, and the atomic ratio of potassium:sodium in the feedstock is between about 1-5:1;
- and wherein the feedstock has a weight ratio of potassium:magnesium between about 3-5:1.
A feedstock for improving the lactational performance of dairy cows which comprises a supplemented basal ration having a prescribed content of micromineral nutrients;
- wherein the relative proportions of macrominerals in the feedstock are defined as a dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) which corresponds to the equation:
- DCAD=meq(Na++K+)−(Cl−+SO4−2 )/100 g dietary DM
- where meq is milliequivalents, Na is sodium cations, K is potassium cations, Cl is chloride anions, SO4 is sulfate anions, and DM is dry matter;
- wherein DCAD has a value between about 20-60 meq/100 g dietary DM, and the atomic ratio of potassium:sodium in the feedstock is between about 1-5:1;
- and wherein the feedstock has a weight ratio of potassium:magnesium between about 3-5:1.
A dietary supplement for incorporation in ruminant feedstock, wherein the supplement is adapted to provide sodium, potassium and magnesium cations in calculated proportions to a basal ration, and wherein the supplement content comprises the following parts by weight of macrominerals:
- Sodium bicarbonate and/or 30-60 Sodium sesquicarbonate Potassium carbonate 20-60 Magnesium oxide 5-25
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.