The multifaceted role of calcium in milk fever

摘要

Dairy farming in Ireland has seen many changes over the past 10 years, especially since the dawning of the post-quota era. Milk fever continues to be a major challenge and cost, not only in terms of cow health and lost productivity, but also in termsof scarce labour.Over the past decade, Irish dairy farmers have embraced new ideas and opportunities to develop their businesses such as: post-quota expansion; more compact calving patterns; and a greater focus on milk from grass. However, a compact calving season when combined with more cows and a lack of skilled labour, means that the calving season is the most stressful time of year on most dairy farms. The calving season also coincides with the period when farms are most exposed to the second most costly disease onthe dairy farm, milk fever, It is well established that calcium (Ca) plays a major role when it comes to milk fever and that cows with milk fever are more prone to other costly metabolic issues (Curtis, 1983). Recent research has shown that sub-clinicalmilk fever has a major unseen cost on farm and is responsible for 80% of the annual cost of milk fever.