Relationship between reticular pH parameters and potential on-farm indicators in the early lactation of dairy cows

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is an important nutritional disorder affecting animal welfare and economy of milk production. Definitions rely on ruminal pH but due to limitations of its measurement, indicators reflecting low pH are highly desirable. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between reticular pH and 18 on-farm indicators in milk, blood, faeces, urine and chewing behaviour in early lactating dairy cows. Ten farms were visited for 3 weeks and in total samples of 100 cows (10 per farm) were taken. The statistics and graphical visualization were performed using Pearson correlation and linear regression models on an animal individual level as well as with linear mixed models. Eight indicators (milk fat, fat-to-protein ratio, rumination time, feed intake time, rumination frequency, rumination boluses, lying time and faecal pH) were statistically significant associated with the daily animal individual reticular pH average. However, none of the models including the potential explanatory variables explained more than 5% of the pH variations. The study confirms the necessity of pH measurement to detect SARA risk animals in early lactation dairy cows.