The effect of borax on some energy metabolites in dairy cows during the transition period [Geçiş dönemi süt ineklerinde bazı enerji metabolitlerinin üzerine boraksın etkisi]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of sodium borate (na2b4o7·5h2o) addition to dairy cow rations starting from prepartum period on serum cortisol,glucose,β-hydroxybutyrate (bhb),non-esterified fatty acids (nefa),triglyceride (tg),blood urea nitrogen (bun),aspartate aminotransferase (ast),alanine aminotransferase (alt) levels. clinically healthy eighty pregnant cows were randomly divided into two groups. sodium borate (30 g/day) was added to the rations of the borax group (n=40) until day 21 postpartum. blood samples were taken from all cows (n=40) on days 21,14 and 7 before parturition,at parturition and on days 7,14 and 21 after parturition. serum cortisol levels in the borax group were lower (p<0.05) than those in the control group,there was a decrease (p<0.05) in serum bhb,nefa and tg levels before,at parturition and after parturition,serum bun concentrations increased (p<0.05) in prepartum and postpartum samples in the borax group,except for prepartum days 21 and 14,ast concentrations were higher (p>0.05),on all other sampling days,and alt levels were not affected (p>0.05). it was concluded that adding sodium borate to rations especially in the transition period in highly productive dairy breeds might be an alternative to protect against negative energy imbalances. © 2016,veteriner fakultesi dergisi. all rights reserved.