Hot topic: prevention of parturient paresis and subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows by zeolite A administration in the dry period.
To test the effects of a zeolite feed supplement on parturient calcium status and milk fever, two groups of dry cows were treated with either 1 kg of zeolite/d or none for 4 wk prepartum. At calving and d 1 and 2 after calving all cows were given 250 g of calcium carbonate as a drench, and a blood sample was taken. Serum calcium analysis revealed a greater calcium concentration in zeolite-treated cows. While three control cows contracted milk fever, necessitating intravenous calcium therapy, and six out of eight control cows experienced serum calcium levels below 2 mmol/L in one or more samples taken, none of the zeolite-treated cows contracted milk fever or experienced subclinical hypocalcemia.
Thilsing-Hansen
T
T
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Clinical Studies, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. trh@kvl.dk
Jørgensen
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D010319:Parturient Paresis / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D017641:Zeolites / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D017641:Zeolites; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D002118:Calcium