We’ve got a couple of new products on the shelf at the minute that some of you might be interested in. Cholivite boluses and LP200. They are for animals that are either at risk of getting, or already have energy problems. If you already use Kexxtone boluses pre-calving or Propylene Glycol post-calving then these could be right up your street. They are designed for dairy cows but in some instances late pregnancy or early lactation beef cow and ewes could benefit from them too.
Cows are hormonally primed to mobilize fat stores at calving (break them down into energy for use elsewhere in the body). Fatter cows, those carrying twins, and herds that have nutritional problems in late lactation and during the dry period will tend to mobilize more. Excessive fat mobilization causes immune and metabolic dysfunction, decreases milk yields and increases the risk of infectious and metabolic diseases such as endometritis, mastitis, displaced abomasums and ketosis. This mobilized fat needs to be processed by the liver – the true ‘engine room’ of the body. This mobilized fat is taken up the by the liver and processed in 2 ways:
1. ‘Burnt’ to ketones which are used as an alternative energy supply for muscles
2. Exported from the liver
Both of these processes are limited until cows are back in positive energy balance which normally takes several weeks after calving. Cholivite boluses and LP200 contain high concentrations of rumen protected choline and Vitamin E:
• Choline assists the liver process mobilized fat
• Vitamin E is an important anti-oxidant which helps the cow cope with the negative immune effects of calving as well as liver inflammation
The animals that are most at risk of excessive fat mobilization at calving:
• Over-conditioned animals
• Cows carrying twins
• Cows with an underlying disease that is limiting appetite
• Cows being treated for ketosis with gluconeogenic precursors such as propylene glycol and calcium propionate
• Cows treated for displaced abomasums
Most of you know that our focus is working with you to prevent these problems happening in the first place but we all know that even with the best laid plans……… So when there are problems these 2 products can be useful to have in your armoury. Cholivite Boluses are given as a single or double bolus (depending on how high a risk she is), whereas LP200 is a powder that you mix up into a drench (200g of LP200) on a daily basis for 3-5 days alongside her Propylene Glycol. LP200 delivers a bit more of a punch than the bolus so would be a better option for a very high risk cow. Some of you will have used these products before and the feedback we have had has been very positive, so chat to your normal vet to see if your animals might benefit from it.
