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Milk Fever

Background knowledge
Milk fever is a disease of the calcium and phosphorus metabolism, which is mainly observed in freshly calved dairy cows.

Development and causes
Relevant for the development of milk fever are:

the 6-8 weeks before calving (dry period)
the 2 days after calving
the daily quantity of milk
the amount of calcium needed
the amount of calcium actually available

Difference between clinical & subclinical milk fever.
Muscles and nerves need calcium to function properly. Depending on the level of calcium deficiency, cows suffer from clinical or subclinical milk fever.

Clinical milk fever
In clinical milk fever, the calcium deficiency is so great that the muscles fail and the cow can no longer stand up. This form of milk fever is usually recognised and treated by the veterinarian. He usually administers a calcium infusion directly into the blood.

Subclinical milk fever
In the subclinical form of milk fever, the calcium deficiency does not lead to any visible symptoms and is therefore often not recognised. Nevertheless, feed intake decreases, milk yield decreases and the risk of secondary diseases increases.

Frequency
Scientific studies assume that on average every 10th older cow (from the 3rd calf) suffers from clinical and every 3rd cow from subclinical milk fever.

Status quo - milk fever prophylaxis Germany Study (Uni Berlin 2016):
54 % of the farms studied do not have a milk fever strategy, i.e. they do not take any prophylactic measures. Among the farms that did take milk fever prophylaxis, 80 % of the farms gave calcium orally and 20 % fed acid salts.

Consequential diseases
The impairment of the musculature and nerves due to milk fever can affect a wide variety of areas in the cow's body: If the skeletal muscles do not function properly, the cow will stand unsteadily or lie down. Due to the unsteady gait, she will go to the feed table less often and thus reduce her feed intake. This leads to energy deficiency, fat meltdown and eventually ketosis.
Likewise, the risk of injury increases if the skeletal muscles do not function properly. The muscle at the end of the teat can also be affected by dairy fever. If this muscle does not close properly, germs can enter the udder and cause mastitis. The whole digestive system depends on an intact calcium supply because it consists of layers of muscle. If these do not function optimally, digestive problems can occur.
The abomasal displacement also finds its cause here. The uterine muscles are central to the birth and postpartum process. If these do not function properly, it can lead to weakness in labour and postpartum behaviour. Possible consequences are uterine infections, birth injuries and fertility problems. These secondary diseases strain and weaken the immune system. Pathogens therefore find it very easy to cause damage. This connection is also suspected in the case of the claw disease dermatitis digitalis (Mortellaro).

Consequential diseases dairy cow graphic

Preventive measures

Entering a calcium bolus to bridge the calcium deficit.

At least 40 g of available calcium should be administered per bolus. If the calcium content per bolus is above 40 g, one bolus per administration is sufficient. On average, 2 calcium administrations are sufficient.
Only use products that are gentle on the mucous membranes. The calcium source calcium chloride is corrosive!
If calcium carbonate is used as a calcium source, it must be noted that calcium availability is only about 75%.

Input of a calcium liquid to bridge the calcium deficit.

At least 40 g of available calcium should be given per administration. If the calcium content per bottle is above 40 g, one bottle per administration is sufficient. On average, 2 doses of calcium are sufficient.
Only use products that are gentle on the mucous membranes. The calcium source calcium chloride is corrosive!
If calcium carbonate is used as a calcium source, it must be noted that calcium availability is only about 75%.
the better the product tastes to the cows, the easier and safer it is to feed it.

Calcium binders during the last 2 weeks before birth.

Feeding calcium binders reduces calcium absorption in the cow's body. A scarce supply of calcium during the dry period can prevent dairy fever.
However, if the dry ration consists of a high proportion of potassium-rich grass silage or potassium-rich hay, this measure is not sufficient.
The calcium binder binds calcium in the animals' digestive tract. The bound calcium is excreted and only the unbound part passes into the blood. The same effect occurs as with low-calcium feeding.
The prerequisites for correct use are a ration calculation, close observation of feed intake and immediate discontinuation of the calcium binder after calving!

Injection of vitamin D3

As this is a veterinary medicinal product, its use must be discussed with the veterinarian.

Subcutaneous injection of calcium

As this is a veterinary medicine, its use must be discussed with the veterinarian.

Acid salts during the last 2 - 3 weeks before calving.

Feeding acid salts reduces the DCAB (cation-anion balance) in the feed ration. The goal is a low blood pH before birth. This negative metabolic balance reduces the risk of milk fever. This can be achieved by feed rations with a negative DCAB.
Preconditions for the correct use are an exact ration calculation, regular urinalysis, close observation of feed intake and immediate discontinuation of acid salts after calving.

A calcium and potassium-reduced diet in the last 3-4 weeks before calving reduces the risk of milk fever.
However, if the dry ration consists of a high proportion of grass silage or hay, this is usually not feasible.
A prerequisite for the success of this measure are analysis results of the basic feedstuffs used and exact ration calculations.

Our products for milk fever prophylaxis

Calzogol Bolus für Milchfieber Prophylaxe

Calz-o-Phos Bolus für Milchfieber Prophylaxe

Phosphogol Bolus für Milchfieber Prophylaxe

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