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Milk fever control principles: a review
T Thilsing-Hansen1, R J Jørgensen, S Østergaard
1Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Clinical Studies, Cattle Production Medicine Research Group, Frederiksberg, Denmark. trh@kvl.dk
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
|June 20, 2002
Summary
Preventing milk fever in cows can be achieved through oral calcium drenching (50-60% effective), negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) rations, or low-calcium diets. Management factors like magnesium supply and avoiding obesity are also crucial.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Nutrition
- Ruminant Health
Background:
- Milk fever (hypocalcemia) is a common metabolic disorder in dairy cows around calving.
- Effective preventive strategies are crucial for dairy herd health and productivity.
- This review evaluates established and potential methods for milk fever prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and estimate the efficacy of three main preventive principles against milk fever.
- To assess the effectiveness of oral calcium, dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD), and low-calcium diets.
- To discuss relevant management factors influencing milk fever incidence.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of controlled investigations on milk fever prevention.
- Estimation of efficacy for oral calcium drenching, negative DCAD, and low-calcium diets.
- Calculation of relative risk (RR) for milk fever incidence based on dietary interventions.
Main Results:
- Oral calcium drenching shows 50-60% efficacy but can cause forestomach lesions.
- Negative DCAD rations significantly reduce milk fever incidence (RR 0.19-0.35) but face palatability issues.
- Low-calcium diets (<20 g/day) are highly effective (RR 0-0.20) but challenging to formulate with common feeds.
Conclusions:
- Oral calcium, negative DCAD, and low-calcium diets are effective milk fever prevention strategies.
- Adequate magnesium supply and preventing obesity in dry cows are important management practices.
- Further research is needed on carbohydrate intake, dry period length, and prepartum milking effects.