Sodium salicylate treatment in early lactation increases whole-lactation milk and milk fat yield in mature dairy cows

Multiple lines of inquiry have suggested that a high degree of inflammation in early lactation cows is associated with low productivity and increased disease incidence. In addition, some small studies have suggested that milk production increases in response to antiinflammatory treatment in the first week of lactation. Our objective was to determine if administration of sodium salicylate (SS), a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), in the first week of lactation changes whole-lactation productivity and retention in the herd. At calving, 78 cows n = 39 primiparous (1P); n = 24 second parity (2P); n = 15 third parity or greater (3P)] were alternately assigned to either control (CON) or SS treatments for 7 d postpartum. Sodium salicylate treatment was administered via individual water bowls at a concentration of 1.95 g/L, delivering a mean of 123.3 ± 5.5 g of salicylate/d during the 7-d treatment. For the first 21 d of lactation, dry matter intake, water intake, milk yield, and health were monitored daily, and milk samples were collected twice weekly for milk component analysis. Monthly milk yield and component testing through the rest of the lactation provided data to assess long-term responses, and the effects of treatment on the risk of leaving the herd and on 305-d milk, fat, and protein yields were assessed. During the first 21 d of lactation, we observed no differences in morbidity, except for increased risk of metritis in 3P SS cows. Treatment interacted with parity to influence both 305-d milk and milk fat yields, and a tendency for an interaction was detected for 305-d milk protein yield. Milk yield was 2,469 ± 646 kg greater over the lactation in 3P SS cows compared with 3P CON cows (21% increase) and tended to decrease by 8% in 1P cows treated with SS; no effects were detected in 2P cows. Furthermore, 3P SS cows produced 130 ± 23 kg more milk fat over the lactation (30% increase), with no effects detected for 1P or 2P. Treatment with SS tended to increase 305-d milk protein yield in 3P cows by 14%, with no effects in 1P or 2P cows. A tendency for a treatment × parity interaction was also observed for the risk of leaving the herd. First-parity cows treated with SS tended to have greater risk of leaving the herd than controls (30 vs. 6% risk); however, treatment did not alter herd retention in 2P or 3P groups, and SS had no effect on the risk of leaving the herd overall. Results indicate that SS has long-term effects on lactation of mature dairy cows, particularly on fat yield, but may have negative effects for primiparous cows.