Tag: Dietary cation anion difference

The dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) calculation is an essential nutritional tool used by dairy producers to reduce the incidence of metabolic disorders such as milk fever, which costs the industry millions annually. The primary equation for the DCAD diet balances cations like potassium and sodium against anions like chloride and sulfur to influence a cow's acid-base balance and mineral mobilization.

According to extensive dairy research, manipulating the Dietary Cation-Anion Difference (DCAD) can significantly impact a cow's health and productivity. This nutritional concept measures the balance of positive and negative charged minerals in a ration, allowing for the strategic management of a cow's acid-base status, particularly during the transition period around calving.