Original Research

Response of cattle with clinical osteochondrosis to mineral supplementation

Gerjan van der Veen, Geoffrey T. Fosgate, Frederick K. Botha, Heinz H. Meissner, Lubbe Jacobs, Leon Prozesky
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 84, No 1 | a1365 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1365 | © 2017 Gerjan van der Veen, Geoffrey T. Fosgate, Frederick K. Botha, Heinz H. Meissner, Lubbe Jacobs, Leon Prozesky | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 28 September 2016 | Published: 24 February 2017

About the author(s)

Gerjan van der Veen, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Geoffrey T. Fosgate, Department of Production Animal Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Frederick K. Botha, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Heinz H. Meissner, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Lubbe Jacobs, Lubern Animal Feeds, Hartswater, South Africa
Leon Prozesky, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Since 1982, farmers in the North West province and other parts of South Africa have noticed an increase in the incidence of lameness in cattle. Macro- and microscopical lesions of joints resembled osteochondrosis. Pre-trial data indicated that cattle with osteochondrotic lesions recovered almost completely when fed a supplement containing bio-available micro- and macrominerals of high quality. In the present trial, 43 clinically affected cattle of varying ages (1–5 years) and sexes were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was fed the same commercial supplement base with differing micro- and macromineral concentrations to determine the effect of mineral concentrations on the recovery from osteochondrosis. Both supplements 1 and 2 contained 25% of the recommended National Research Council (NRC) mineral values. Additional phosphate was added to supplement 2. Supplement 3, containing 80% of the NRC mineral values, was used as the control. Results from all three groups indicated no recovery from osteochondrosis. Urine pH of a small sample of the test cattle showed aciduria (pH < 6). Supplement analysis revealed addition of ammonium sulphate that contributed sulphate and nitrogen to the supplement. Supplementary dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) values were negative at -411 mEq/kg, -466 mEq/kg and -467 mEq/kg for supplements 1, 2 and 3, respectively, whereas the pre-trial supplement was calculated at +19.87 mEq/kg. It was hypothesised that feeding a low (negative) DCAD diet will predispose growing cattle to the development of osteochondrosis or exacerbate subclinical or clinical osteochondrosis in cattle.

Keywords

Osteochondrosis; cattle; mineral; DCAD value; acid base balance

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4833
Total article views: 4570

 

Crossref Citations

1. Interaktionen zwischen Arzneimitteltherapie und Tierphysiotherapie
Antje R. Weseler
Hands on - Manuelle und Physikalische Therapien in der Tiermedizin  vol: 3  issue: 01  first page: 43  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1055/a-1254-2680