Control of calcium metabolism in dairy cows in the periparturient period

Abstract

From the trials carried out, one can safely say that the calcium concentration drops drastically at parturition. For a small number of cows, clinical signs will be presented. The majority of cows fall victim to some degree of hypocalcaemia. Hypocalcaemia can prove fatal; being a gateway to secondary disease, resulting in the loss of herd numbers which will ultimately affect the finances of the herd-keeper. Whilst treatment of milk fever can be done quite simply, it is more efficient to have milk fever prevention programmes in place. Despite decades of research and experimenting, the intricacies of the calcium metabolism has not yet been fully and definitively resolved.