Calcium Requirement in Relation to Milk Fever and its Economic Impact in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The goal of this research was to compile and consolidate the disparate data on calcium requirements in connection to milk fever and its economic impact in dairy cattle. The most frequent mineral-related metabolic condition affecting dairy cows at parturition is milk fever, which occurs most commonly in adult dairy cows two to three days following parturition .It is caused by a severe lack of metabolizable calcium ions in the circulation (hypocalcaemia), and its primarily affects high-producing and high-performing dairy cows that are nearing their maximal output capability. Milk yield, parity, cow breed, and a lack of awareness of basic dairy management and ration formulation are all variables that contribute to milk fever. It reduces milk yield and fertility, which leads to the culling of high-producing dairy cows from a herd. It also raises the expense of animal treatment and the danger of additional parturient disorders such retained placenta, ketosis, displaced abomasum, and environmental mastitis. Intravenous calcium salts, such as borogluconate, at a rate of 2g/100kg body weight, as well as oral calcium solutions, are two methods for treating milk fever in dairy cows. Cases of milk fever, on the other hand, can be minimized with good management, notably through the use of proper feeds and feeding systems .To summarize, management of milk fever is very important because it should be considered as a gateway disease that greatly reduce the chance for full productivity and reproduction of dairy cows. The key to prevention of milk fever is management of a close-up dry cow or management during late pregnancy .Therefore, milk fever management is economically most important, as a result, raising dairy farmers’ awareness of milk fever and optimal ration compositions for their dairy cows is a critical instrument in the fight against milk fever.