CASE STUDY: Effects of Water, Fresh Cow YMCP Plus, and Rumen Fluid Transfaunate Supplementation Following Calving on Milk Yield, Reproductive Efficiency, and Incidence of Common Health Disorders in Holstein Cows

Investigation of causes of metabolic and infectious disorders associated with transition dairy cows has focused efforts on implementing management changes designed to reduce losses associated with milk production, mastitis, displaced abomasum, milk fever, ketosis, retained placenta, reproductive performance, and culling. The objective was to test the null hypothesis that a single dose of rumen fluid transfaunate within 24 h after calving would not improve health and production performance of cows during the transition period when compared with cows treated with nothing, an equal volume of warm water, or Fresh Cow YMCP Plus and warm water. Dairy Herd Improvement milk production for each cow was followed for 180 DIM. Blood samples were collected once between d −14 to −7 and again between d −7 to −1 before expected calving dates, and a final blood sample was collected on d 7 ± 1 following treatment. Portions of serum and plasma for both the −7 d and +7 d samples were used to determine serum total Ca, P, Mg, glucose, fibrinogen, nonesterified fatty acids, and BHBA. All data for incidence of health disorders were analyzed using the χ2 test for heterogeneity or independence. There were no differences between treatments for any of the serum analytes, reproduction data, or incidence of disease for retained placenta, displaced abomasum, lameness, mastitis, and culling. The additional costs associated with labor, drench products, and potential for animal losses to drowning during drenching does not economically justify a transition cow drenching regimen for well-managed animals receiving balanced rations and good animal care.