Calcium & Milk Fever
Questions about calcium deficiency and milk fever
What is milk fever (hypocalcaemia)?
Milk fever is a metabolic disease in cows that occurs due to a drop in blood calcium levels in the postpartum period. Calcium is critically important for muscle and nerve function. Low calcium levels can result in muscle weakness, trembling, and in advanced cases recumbency.
What are the symptoms of milk fever?
Milk fever symptoms appear in three stages:
**Stage 1:** Restlessness, trembling, stiffness in hind limbs, loss of appetite
**Stage 2:** Recumbency, head turned to the side, cold ears, low body temperature
**Stage 3:** Full recumbency, loss of consciousness, bloat, risk of heart failure
Early intervention is critically important.
**Stage 1:** Restlessness, trembling, stiffness in hind limbs, loss of appetite
**Stage 2:** Recumbency, head turned to the side, cold ears, low body temperature
**Stage 3:** Full recumbency, loss of consciousness, bloat, risk of heart failure
Early intervention is critically important.
How is milk fever treated?
Treatment involves calcium supplementation:
• **Severe cases:** Intravenous calcium administration (by a veterinarian)
• **Mild cases:** Oral calcium bolus
• **Supportive treatment:** Continue with oral bolus after intravenous treatment
Early diagnosis and rapid intervention can save lives.
• **Severe cases:** Intravenous calcium administration (by a veterinarian)
• **Mild cases:** Oral calcium bolus
• **Supportive treatment:** Continue with oral bolus after intravenous treatment
Early diagnosis and rapid intervention can save lives.
How can milk fever be prevented?
To prevent milk fever:
• Low-calcium ration during the dry period
• Use of anionic salts
• Oral calcium bolus before and after calving
• Avoid overly fat cows
• Vitamin D supplementation
• Monitor high-risk cows
• Low-calcium ration during the dry period
• Use of anionic salts
• Oral calcium bolus before and after calving
• Avoid overly fat cows
• Vitamin D supplementation
• Monitor high-risk cows
When should a calcium bolus be given?
Preventive application protocol:
• **1st bolus:** When signs of calving are seen or 12 hours before calving
• **2nd bolus:** Immediately after calving or 12 hours after
• **3rd bolus (optional):** 24 hours after calving in high-risk cows
• **1st bolus:** When signs of calving are seen or 12 hours before calving
• **2nd bolus:** Immediately after calving or 12 hours after
• **3rd bolus (optional):** 24 hours after calving in high-risk cows
Which cows are at risk of milk fever?
High-risk groups:
• Cows that have calved 3 or more times
• High-yielding cows
• Cows that have previously had milk fever
• Overly fat cows (body condition score >4)
• Jersey breed cows
• Cows carrying twins
• Cows that have calved 3 or more times
• High-yielding cows
• Cows that have previously had milk fever
• Overly fat cows (body condition score >4)
• Jersey breed cows
• Cows carrying twins
Should I use intravenous calcium or oral bolus?
Both have their place:
• **Intravenous calcium:** For emergency treatment in severe cases (must be administered by a veterinarian)
• **Oral bolus:** For prevention and mild cases, as continuation treatment after intravenous therapy
Oral bolus is safer than intravenous treatment and can be administered at home.
• **Intravenous calcium:** For emergency treatment in severe cases (must be administered by a veterinarian)
• **Oral bolus:** For prevention and mild cases, as continuation treatment after intravenous therapy
Oral bolus is safer than intravenous treatment and can be administered at home.