Problems of cow health in dairy farming: known and unknown aspects

Abstract

The article reflects the problematic aspects underlying the development of pathobiochemical processes, disorders of energy metabolism and pathophysiological conditions of cows. Currently, it is generally recognized that no feed sources can meet the high energy needs of high-yielding cows. Moreover, attempts to increase the energy capacity of feed by introducing a large amount of grain concentrates into the diet of high-yielding cows inevitably leads to a violation of the evolutionarily developed digestion. And not only. Orientation to the concentrate type of cow feeding, in which easily fermentable starch predominates, generates the problem of severe acidosis. The fact is that starch of grain concentrates causes a high rate of glycolysis with the formation of a large number of volatile fatty acids, among which the strongest lactic acid prevails [6,12]. Intensive acidification of the rumen also occurs due to the feeding of cows with acidic canned food, also containing a large amount of lactic acid. The result of such feeding is chronization or acute development of acidosis of the scar [6,12,14]. But that's not all. During acidification of the body, vital trace elements are poorly absorbed, and some of them, such as Ca, Na, K, Mg, Fe, are intensively excreted (hypomicroelementosis) [10,21]. The concentration of hemoglobin decreases (anemia syndrome). Oxygen transfer to organs and tissues worsens (hypoxia) [10]. In conditions of acute hypoxia, the final product of glycolysis - pyruvate - does not undergo decarboxylation and is not involved in the Krebs cycle. What is even worse turns into new portions of lactate [10]. The problems of reproduction and the loss of the genetic potential of high milk and meat productivity are closely related to the mass development of pathobiochemical processes. Currently, the average yield of calves per 100 cows rarely exceeds 70%. The above complex of problems requires from science and practice a qualitatively different approach to the issues of ensuring the health, preservation and realization of the genetic potential of high dairy productivity of cows. The profitability of modern dairy farming depends on whether veterinary science and practice can find a solution to these very serious problems.