Dry cow and appetite depression

It is true there are varied factors that can affect dairy cow performance, fertility and health around the time of calving. Just to mention two: these include social grouping-cows should be in groups where they feel comfortable with each other. Also Some amount of straw in the diet can help in maintaining optimal rumen function and dry matter intake. Both will help minimise metabolic disorders that can exacerbate negative eneirgy balance.

There definitely seems to be a digestive disorder based on the little information provided. Does it chew curd? How long ago was it deformed and is the smell of the dung normal or is there any unusual smell to it? Is the coat normal? My suggestion is that you feed more of what it likes and palatable roughage feeds as you observe its behaviour. Being at the very last stage of pregnancy the size of the calf may limit especially of the bulky roughage that have a high effect on gut fill.

Traditionally cows in their last term have been fed high energy dense diest in the hope that the foetal growth requires extra nutrients and that the dam needs to adapt to lactational diets before calving. However, the problem with this practice is the likelihood of over-conditioning the cow to the extent that she is predisposed to negative energy balance due to low appetite and attendant metabolic disorders such as ketosis, displaced abomasum, enteritis and so on. This is why it might be beneficial to monitor body condition closely near calving so that those animals with BCS of more than 3.25 should have their rations diluted with some straw, one to reduce excessive energy intake and two to maintain good rumen fill to encourage appetite in early lactation.

Joe, I couldn't agree with you more on this issue of overconditioning. The need to monitor the body condition cannot be overemphasized too! What is not clear with this information is that the quality of the corn stover/silage being fed. It's possible by just closely examining the dung to see whether there are problems with the rumen fermentative functions. That is why I suggested that availing highly palatable bulky feeds could be a starting point to assess whether the cow is rejecting the feed due to a quality problem of the feeds or some other issue that is more to do digestive system functioning.

Hello I would suggest checking first if fetus is alive. Then check if there is vagal indigestion. Later I would consider abomasal ulcer. Lastly, evaluate if roughage is moldy and change ration.

You may also consider for intestinal intususception if animal will completely stop the feces and will pass only mucus

Beautifully scientists and farmeris have given their inputs......Looks u have taken care of deworming and to me at the moment is QUALITY feed only...give fresh fodder as well as boiled grains including any fat like cow boy in kenya.....your cow should not h ave constipation at the moment ....To improve digestion try the following formula 1.100gm green chilli +100 gram ginger +1/8 kg mint + 200 grams Soda Bicarb+ 250 gms onion.......Just make a mixture by hammering with wood and put the reciepie in news paper and give it as boll through month...ham\nd;e the animal friendly

Dear In the late pregnancy (30 to 0 days before pregnancy) the size of fetus pushes the ruman and a depression in intake is common. It can be cured using the high density diets to fulfill animal requirements. In your case although you have provided little information it seems either ruman displacement or calf has moved to ruman side (torsion) and pressing the ruman. Provide green and laxative diet , reduce fiber content with quality forages. Ask for a vet to check for torsion. Also check for ruman imprecation. .

It is worth checking for Fatty Liver. Better stop all grain/ concentrates and as others suggested, do quality forage only.

If there is torsion of uterus animal will go totally offfeed i think execess o f silage may be the cause of the problem

this is only a very simple problem it is just indigestion by giving green fodder and stomachic powder / appetite enhancer this problem could be cured. i some time suggest masoor dal cooked like human consumption for three to four days this problem is also cured. suggestions like torsion in the this condition animal continue to intake.other problems like abomasal ulcers and other are ruled out.

for dry of pregnant cow the chance of displaced abomasum and acidosis is rarely,but the chance of pneumonia i can not comment b/c it s infectious disease u can judge by clinical sign, but i have dought that feed formulation and mixing problems. if u check feed formulation ,mixing and distribution and dry feed particles size ( length of rods).for treatment point of u ,u can used rumen juice of other cows or used live yeast rumen stimulator remedy.

The depression in feed intake during advanced pregnancy is obvious due to increased size of the foetus. However, it is desired that high energy diet may be given to the cows during this period rather than high fibre diet.

In my experience DA's, at this stage of gestation are rare and symptoms different of what you have described. A dairy cow at this stage should be eating around 1.6% of her BW in a daily basis (DMI). For what you are saying, "Feces are few but mixed with a kind of grease, jelly-like but gelatinous content. ", this cow is passing manure very slowly and therefore you need to adjust her diet with a diet that contain a little more of physical fiber, like a good quality hay. I stress "good quality hay".

I endorse the coments of Hirjit Kaur, however in feeding strategy fibrous feed cannot be ignored. Good quality hay with optimal nutritious value should also be considered.