Effects of feeding management on disease incidence and blood metabolites in dairy herds in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

The objective of the present study was to identify the effect of feeding management on disease incidence and blood metabolite levels in dairy herds in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. A generalized linear model approach was used to identify the risk factors for ketosis and displaced abomasum (DA) in dairy herds (n=30), and metabolic profile test (MPT) results were compared to verify the involvement of the factors. Consequently, the proportion of corn silage (CS) with ≥30% of dry matter (DM) fed to cows during the lactation period was confirmed as the most reliable risk factor for ketosis, while no risk factor was identified for DA. Meanwhile, the incidence rates of ketosis and DA were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the herds that were fed CS (n=20) than in those fed a non-CS diet (n=10). When the MPT results of the herds fed with CS containing ≥30% of DM (HCS group, n=4; 76 cows), with CS containing <30% of DM (LCS group, n=14; 285 cows), and a non-CS diet (NCS group, n=12; 236 cows) were compared, the HCS group showed higher beta-hydroxybutyric and lower blood urea nitrogen concentrations for until 49 days after parturition. Overall, feeding cows with CS diets containing over 30% of DM might increase their risk of developing negative energy and protein balances, thereby resulting in increasing incidences of ketosis in the Iwate Prefecture.