In this session, we'll dive into the importance of calcium and negative DCAD in dairy cattle nutrition and reproduction. You’ll learn how managing these elements in the diet can help improve reproductive performance and prevent health issues. We’ll also cover how to identify and address management challenges associated with negative DCAD and calcium levels, providing actionable insights to optimize your herd's overall success.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS). Originally presented at the 2024 World Dairy Expo, three experts cover a variety of topics related to HBS, including field applications, common signs and symptoms, HBS risk and more.

MODERATOR: Dr. Michael Hodgman, DVM, Phibro Animal Health Corporation

SPEAKERS: Dr. James Chapman, Ph.D., Dipl. ACAN — “Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome (HBS) Signs & Symptoms”

Dr. Mike Hutjens, Professor Emeritus, Animal Sciences Department, University of Illinois — “Field Applications to HBS Risk”

Dr. Donald Sockett, DVM, MS, Ph.D., Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory — “HBS in Dairy Cattle”

What You Will Learn

• Statistical Process Control (SPC) functions can monitor any bird health metrics that are measured: presence/absence, load, health scores, etc.
• SPC Systems combine multiple SPC functions to monitor different types of changes.
• SPC Systems can detect smaller changes, and can detect them more quickly and more reliably than individual SPC functions.

Presentado en español por Dr. Ismael Hernandez

Presented in English by Dr. Ismael Hernandez.

What You Will Learn

• Updates on hypocalcemia.
• Considerations for close-up feeding management.
• Fresh cow feeding strategies.
• Metabolizable protein for transition cows.

There are different additives used to improve intestinal health and performance, eliminate or at least mitigate lots of predisposing factors or boost birds immune system towards pathogens. Enzymes (phytase and NSP enzymes), some vitamins (such as vit A, E, D3, niacin) and trace elements (like Zn and Se), probiotics, prebiotics, phytogenics (for example essential oils, polyphenols or saponins), short and medium chain fatty acids. The question is...which solutions are right for my flocks?

Unfortunately, there is no straight and simple answer. We need to understand each additive's specific mode of action and pick the one that best addresses the conditions and challenges we face.

When it comes to feed additives that improve intestinal health, a main attribute is inflammation management or anti-inflammatory properties. A desirable effect is also stimulation of the specific immune response towards different pathogens instead of non-specific inflammatory reactions, which are less efficient and often detrimental. Feed additives that boost intestinal health mitigate (prevent or alleviate) tissue stress and damage by, for example, dealing with antinutritional factors or having antioxidant effect.

Some additives have specific trophic properties over the intestinal mucosa, in which way they boost the mucosal function – absorption of nutrients and barrier for pathogens and toxic substances.

On the other side, some additives support the state of eubiosis or balance between the microorganism – in our case, the bird and its microflora. They might have a direct effect on the host metabolism by reducing stress and inflammation, driving metabolism to more catabolic versus anabolic processes.

Besides, most of the feed additives have additive or even synergistic effects that one could leverage on.

• What You Will Learn: Define the components of intestinal integrity and review different nutritional strategies and feed additives helping to improve the intestinal barrier function, maintain balanced state of the intestinal microflora and tolerance to inflammation to improve performance and reduce the need of antibiotic treatments on the field.
• How to improve intestinal integrity by adjusting our feed specifications (protein, fibers, fat and minerals), dealing with main antinutritional factors, feed structure and raw materials’ quality.

Dr. Mike Kogut, research microbiologist with the USDA Agriculture Research Service, introduces the intestinal trio and the relationship between gut microbiota, metabolites and immunity, including detailed discussion of inter-organ communication in the gut and regulation of tissue physiology. He further explores host defense mechanisms for disease resistance and disease tolerance, and how metabolism can manipulate host defenses.