Preventative Effects of Propylene Glycol on Periparturient Diseases in Dairy Cattle in the Close-up State

Abstract

Of 139 head of dairy cattle in the close-up stage, 58 were given oral drenches (500ml) of propylene glycol (PPG) once daily for at least 3 days before parturition (PPG group). Incidences of periparturient diseases (ketosis/fatty liver, parturient paresis/milk fever, displacement of the abomasum, retained placenta/metria, and clinical mastisis) in this group were compared with-those in the remaining untreated 81 head (untreated group). Incidence of periparturient diseases in the PPG group was considerably lower (32.8%) than in the untreated group (56.8%). Clinical mastitis showed the greatest decline in incidence. The preventative effect of PPG on periparturient diseases was significantly greater in cattle for which results of tests on blood sampled during the close-up period showed a total cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dl or a urea-nitrogen level of less than 8.0mg/dl. These results suggest that administration of PPG in the close-up stage is effective in preventing periparturient diseases.