1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 plus 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 reduces parturient paresis in dairy cows fed high dietary calcium

The effectiveness of a combination of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 for reducing incidence of parturient paresis in aged Holstein cows was tested. Intramuscular injection of .5 mg of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 plus 4 mg of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 increased plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations through parturition. Treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 plus 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 raised prepartum serum Ca approximately 2 mg/dl and prepartum serum P approximately 4 to 5 mg/dl higher than untreated controls. Both treated and control cows had approximately a 2-mg/dl decrease in serum Ca following parturition. The prepartum diet of alfalfa silage and hay was supplemented with a grain mixture supplying 100 g of Ca/d from ground limestone. Under these dietary conditions, incidence of parturient paresis was reduced from 33 to 8%. In a separate experiment, treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 plus 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 did not reduce incidence of parturient paresis when cows consumed mixed diets of different feed-stuff composition. Further experiments are required to determine specifically the factor or factors responsible for the difference in response to active vitamin D compound administration between the two experiments. Prepartum dietary Ca intake may be one such factor.