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Vitamin D3 toxicity in dairy cows.

E T Littledike, R L Horst

    Journal of Dairy Science
    |May 1, 1982
    PubMed
    Summary

    Large doses of vitamin D3 injections in pregnant cows led to severe toxicity and death, despite preventing milk fever. The risk outweighs the benefit for prepartum treatment in Jersey cows.

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    Area of Science:

    • Veterinary Medicine
    • Animal Nutrition
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Milk fever (hypocalcemia) is a common metabolic disorder in dairy cows.
    • Vitamin D3 supplementation is a known strategy to prevent milk fever.
    • Jersey cows may have unique metabolic responses to high-dose vitamin D3.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of large parenteral doses of vitamin D3 for milk fever prevention in Jersey cows.
    • To assess the impact of prepartum vitamin D3 administration on calcium and phosphorus levels.
    • To determine the toxicity of high-dose vitamin D3 in pregnant and non-pregnant cows.

    Main Methods:

    • Administered large parenteral doses of vitamin D3 (15-17.5 x 10^6 IU) to pregnant and non-pregnant Jersey cows.
    • Monitored blood plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D3, and its metabolites.
    • Observed cows for clinical signs of milk fever and vitamin D3 toxicity.
    • Compared outcomes between treated cows and a control group.

    Main Results:

    • Vitamin D3 treatment prevented milk fever in pregnant cows but caused prolonged hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia.
    • Pregnant cows receiving vitamin D3 exhibited severe toxicity, with 10 of 17 cows dying from metastatic calcification.
    • Non-lactating, non-pregnant cows did not show signs of toxicity.
    • Postpartum calcium levels were significantly higher in vitamin D3-treated cows.

    Conclusions:

    • High-dose parenteral vitamin D3 is not a practical or safe method for preventing milk fever in pregnant Jersey cows due to extreme toxicity.
    • There is a narrow safety margin between therapeutic and toxic doses of vitamin D3 in this breed.
    • Further research is needed to explore safer alternatives for milk fever prevention.

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