A5 Q2 Torch Summer Magazine 2024 - Flipbook - Page 26
Why is fa琀琀y liver such a complicated disease to treat??
The liver is the engine of a cow’s metabolism and once this has been compromised, the livers func琀椀ons become diminished. The liver is responsible for a lot of
processes vital to a cow func琀椀oning normally – any compromise to this not only
means you have the liver challenge but also all the secondary complica琀椀ons to go
with it. Cows at risk of fa琀琀y liver such as over condi琀椀on dry cows, long lacta琀椀on
cows, cows carrying twins etc will require extra support a昀琀er calving to help
protect their livers.
What can we do to support the liver func琀椀on?
Choline is a product which supports fat metabolism and helps transport fat out of
the liver to reduce the fa琀琀y liver. Choline products have been in the dairy industry
for many years rumen protected Choline being recognised as a bene昀椀cial tool in
transi琀椀on cow diets. The pre calving diet with feed addi琀椀ve is easily managed but
a post calving diet with bespoke transi琀椀on supplements is more di昀케cult to manage unless a fresh calving group is run. The cost bene昀椀t of feeding rumen protected Choline becomes less viable once a cow has been calved for a few weeks so
o昀琀en, the feed addi琀椀ve is only fed pre calving.
A solu琀椀on to the post calving supplementa琀椀on comes in the form of a protected
choline bolus administered to high-risk animals post calving (e.g. over condi琀椀oned
cows, twins, any calving setback such as assisted calving, mas琀椀琀椀s in the fresh
period etc).
The bolus hasbeen shown to give a yield bene昀椀t of over 5 litres at 昀椀rst recording
for cows calving in at body condi琀椀on score over 3.5.
Cholivite is a commercially available Choline bolus supplement
which is available at Torch.
Monitoring Opportuni琀椀es - Preven琀椀on is be琀琀er than cure,
here are ways we currently help on farm - let us know if you are
interested in us o昀昀ering this service on your farm?
• Disease incidence
• fresh cow checks,
• fresh cow yields,
• fresh cow ketosis monitoring can all give us an idea of how and when transi琀椀on cows are performing or underperforming.
Consider more monitoring of cows BEFORE calving to prevent problems
ahead of 琀椀me with management or medica琀椀on. Body condi琀椀on scoring and rumen
昀椀ll scoring can tell us a lot about whether a cow is set up for success or may be
more likely to struggle. Our technicians can support you with this monitoring.
Blood sampling dry cows can also give us an idea of whether cows have adequate
energy pre calving.
Please speak to us for more informa琀椀on.
