Use of an oral bolus in the drying-off of dairy cattle
The invention relates to the use of an oral bolus for drying-off cattle, preferably daily cattle, as well as methods of improving/facilitating the drying-off of cattle, reducing the milk production in pregnant and/or lactating cattle, decreasing milk accumulation in the udder of cattle, increasing the daily lying time of cattle, inducing a mild and temporary metabolic acidosis in cattle, reducing the dry matter intake (DMI) in cattle and/or reducing urine pH in cattle, preferably dairy cattle, comprising administering to such cattle at least one oral bolus, preferably on the last milking day and/or before dry-off.
1. A method of improving and/or facilitating drying off of a cow comprising administering to the cow an oral acidogenic bolus that comprises a plurality of acidifying agents, wherein the acidifying agents comprise 5% (w/w) to 15% (w/w) ammonium chloride, 40% (w/w) to 60% (w/w) calcium chloride and 15% (w/w) to 25% (w/w) calcium sulfate.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acidifying agents comprise 10.4% (w/w) ammonium chloride, 51.9% (w/w) calcium chloride and 20.1% (w/w) calcium sulfate.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cow is pregnant.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the cow is lactating.
5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the cow is a Holstein cow.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acidogenic bolus is administered at least from 1 to 4 times on a last milking day and/or before dry-off.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the acidogenic bolus is administered twice on the last milking day and/or before dry-off.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the administration of the oral acidogenic bolus is from 8 to 12 hours before a last milking day and/or before drying off.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the administering results in reduction of milk production in the cow, for at least 48 hours following bolus administration.
10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the administering results in one or more further effects selected from the group consisting of:
(a) decrease of milk accumulation in the udder and thereby reduced udder pressure, during the one or more days after dry-off and when bolus administration occurred 8 hours to 12 hours before dry-off;
(b) increase of the daily lying time, on the day after dry-off;
(c) induction of a mild and temporary metabolic acidosis at dry-off;
(d) reduction of dry matter intake (DMI), during one or more days after dry-off; and
(e) reduction of urine pH following bolus administration.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acidogenic bolus is administered on a last milking day and/or before dry-off.
12. An acidogenic bolus comprising 5% (w/w) to 15% (w/w) ammonium chloride, 40% (w/w) to 60% (w/w) calcium chloride and 15% (w/w) to 25% (w/w) calcium sulfate.
13. The acidogenic bolus according to claim 12 comprising 10.4% (w/w) ammonium chloride, 51.9% (w/w) calcium chloride, and 20.1% (w/w) calcium sulfate.