Response of cattle with clinical osteochondrosis to mineral supplementation

Abstract

Since 1982 farmers and veterinarians mainly from the North West province of South Africa noticed an increase in cattle with associated lameness and osteopathy of unknown aetiology. Affected cattle presented with varying degrees of lameness as well as peri-articular swelling especially of the stifle joint. Cattle of all ages, particularly those between the ages of 6 - 18 months developed lesions. Lesions were also noticed among different breeds, production stages and different farming enterprises (commercial and stud farming). The only common factor among the affected cattle was the environment in which they were farmed. Culling of affected animals, especially calves, reduced the number of replacement stock to a level where some farmers were not able to produce sufficient replacement stock, consequently suffering tremendous financial losses. Investigation into the aetiology of the new sporadic osteopathy was deemed necessary. Initially it was suspected that the condition was due to mineral deficiency, as affected cattle fed a supplement containing high levels of micro- and macro minerals responded positively within three weeks during a pre-trial. The study was conducted to determine the level of micro- and macro minerals required to be included in a supplement that would improve the clinical condition of cattle clinically affected by osteochondrosis. Results indicated no significant difference between supplemetary treatments. A comparison between the pre-trial and the current supplements indicated that the supplements in the present study had negative dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) values. Since negative DCAD compositions may result in mild metabolic acidosis, as supported by literature, and the acidic urine collected in a small sample of the test cattle, the hypothesis is advanced that it is unlikely that supplementation, regardless of its mineral concentration will improve the condition of the cattle if the DCAD value of the supplement is strongly negative. The hypothesis should be tested in forthcoming research and the following should be determined: (1) the specific effect a supplement with a negative DCAD value has when fed to cattle with clinical osteochondrosis, and (2) the optimal DCAD value of a supplement that would aid in limiting the severity of osteochondrosis in cattle.