The effect of pre-calving injection of trace mineral supplements on periparturient disease incidence in pasture based dairy cows

Abstract

Trace minerals, have a role in immune function and a trace mineral supplement (TMS) can improve animal health in dairy herds. This prospective randomised clinical study assessed whether subcutaneous injection of 5.5 mL of TMS (40 mg zinc, 10 mg manganese, 5 mg selenium, 15 mg copper per mL), 14–28 days before planned start of calving (PSC) reduced clinical mastitis (CM), subclinical mastitis (SCM) and purulent vaginal discharge (PVD). From four farms, half of 1700 cows stratified on somatic cell count, age and breed were randomly allocated to treatment or no treatment. Occurrence of CM from − 7 to PSC + 100 days, SCM at PSC + 60 days and PVD at PSC + 24 days was analysed using survival analysis and Bayesian generalised mixed multivariable models. From −7 to PSC +30 days, TMS reduced the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CM at quarter and cow level (P < 0.001), with no evidence for an effect beyond 30 days. The adjusted OR (and 95% highest density interval, HDI) for the effect of TMS on CM from −7 to PSC +30 days was 0.40 (95% HDI, 0.26–0.63) at quarter level, 0.51 (95% HDI, 0.38–0.69) at cow level and for SCM, 0.72 (95% HDI, 0.54–0.95). The difference in CM incidence from TMS at the cow level was −2.0% (95% HDI, −3.4 to −1.1%) and −1.2% (95% HDI, −3.2 to − 0.6%) at quarter level. No clear effect was identified of TMS on cumulative incidence of PVD.