ANIMAL MANAGEMENT
The bag then the bottle – a three step plan for preventing milk fever relapse During calving and the peak in-milk production that follows, New Zealand dairy cattle are faced with a sudden increase in demand for calcium, energy and other minerals. Some cows simply can’t eat enough to keep pace and are forced to draw overly on bodily reserves. All of these factors can put them out of balance and lead to metabolic conditions such as ketosis, grass staggers and most commonly, milk fever. Initial treatment for milk fever with injectable calcium solution is typically fast and immediately effective, however the chance of relapse remains a risk. What the studies say: Studies have shown 30-35 percent of cows initially treated with intravenous calcium will relapse if not given supplementary oral calcium. This number can be even higher in older cows. Using oral calcium following initial intravenous treatment has shown to prevent relapse by up to 60 percent. Treatment plan: To help prevent relapse and give the cow the best chance of returning to health and production, consider a three step treatment regime to provide a sustained supply of calcium, minerals and energy. 1.
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1. Injectable calcium solution administered by IV and/or SC*
Intravenous (IV) calcium solution (administered into the vein) acts quickly and gets the cow up and walking again, often within several minutes. However, this route of administration is quickly utilised by the body, which is why treatment is often supplemented with a bag under the skin. Subcutaneous (SC) administration (giving a bag under the skin) takes comparatively longer to absorb, giving the cow a more sustained supply of minerals over the next few hours.
Using both routes of administration (a bag into the vein and one under the skin) as your first line of treatment will provide rapid calcium replacement plus slow release of calcium.
The Bayer range of metabolic solutions offers injectable calcium
either alone or together with magnesium and energy for cases complicated with grass staggers and/or ketosis.
Suitable products: CBG 37.5, Glucalmag, Glucalmax, Glucalphos.
*Please remember that you do need to take special care to check that the bag you are using is suitable for the intended route of delivery. While most injectable metabolic solutions in the range are suitable for both IV and SC, some are not.
2. Follow-on treatment with oral calcium
Once the cow is up and walking following initial treatment and has regained enough muscle control to swallow normally, orally administered calcium (Oral-Cal) or oral calcium with added energy (Oral-Max) provides a continued level of support to help prevent relapse.
Administer one bottle of oral calcium (Oral-Cal or Oral-Max) as soon as the cow is standing and swallowing normally. Repeat with the same dose 10-12 hours later.
3. Lastly, provide an energy boost.
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Finally, administer propylene glycol (Ketol) for an additional energy boost, quicker metabolic recovery and a positive influence on the post-calving energy gap. Administer 240ml twice daily as a drench, or mix in the drinking water or feed.
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