(Article first published in VetScript, New Zealand Veterinary Association, May 2018)
CONCLUSION:
This article outlines cases in which hardware disease affected multiple cows on two Waikato properties as a result of PKE metal contamination, and draws our attention to the potential day-today, on-farm issues that can result from PKE use. There is also a bigger picture to consider: the amount of supplements in dairy cow diets imported by the dairy industry, and awareness of the provenance of these supplements. On the one hand PKE is a useful, economical feed supplement for dairy cows; on the other it can affect cow health and milk quality and its use supports a highly destructive palm oil industry.