Some Observations on the Use of Sodium Propionate for the Prevention of Ketosis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Summary The herd of Guernsey cattle owned by the University of Delaware, which had previously shown a very high incidence of ketosis, was divided into control and treatment groups which were as near alike as possible in history of ketosis. Cows which calved a second time during the course of the experiment were placed in the group opposite their original group. In this way, 11 of the cows were included in both groups. The treatment group received one-eighth of a pound of sodium propionate twice daily by drench for approximately 6 wk. postpartum. The effect of propionate upon incidence of ketosis, blood sugar levels, blood ketone levels, and milk production was investigated. The incidence of ketosis was low in both groups, but it was just as high in the treated as in the control. There was some tendency for the treated group to be lower in blood ketones and higher in blood glucose than the control group; however, individual variation was too great for these differences to be significant. There was a highly significant difference in milk production favoring the treatment with sodium propionate.