Dietary cation-anion difference, acid-base status, mineral metabolism, renal function, and milk production of lactating cows.

Three switchback experiments were conducted with 12 cows in early lactation, 12 cows in midlactation, and 12 cows in late lactation. Each experiment compared two dietary cation-anion differences. Increasing dietary cation-anion difference increased DMI and milk production in early and midlactation. These effects were not observed in late lactation. Production of milk protein and lactose and concentration of lactose were increased by the higher dietary cation-anion difference in early lactation. Higher dietary cation-anion difference reduced milk fat concentration in midlactation because of the higher milk production. In late lactation, none of the milk components were affected by dietary cation-anion difference. In early and midlactation, apparent absorption of water and urine volume were increased by a higher dietary cation-anion difference; these effects were not caused by higher intake of Na or by higher glomerular filtration rate. Intake, balance, and concentration of S in plasma were increased by the lower cation-anion difference at all stages of lactation. Excretion of HCO3- in urine was reduced by a lower dietary cation-anion difference at all stages of lactation, but secretion of protons in milk was reduced in late lactation only. Increasing dietary cation-anion difference does affect acid-base parameters in urine at all stages of lactation, but DMI and milk production of cows were affected in early and midlactation only.