The demand for calcium from cows to enrich colostrum is highest at calving. This is because cows are literally drawing from their own calcium stores to put the mineral into the milk. The result is often a negative calcium balance that occurs before the mechanisms to pull calcium from the cow’s skeletal system get activated.
Calcium homeostasis is fragile around calving time. It is a difficult time metabolically for a cow. . . a real shock to a cow’s system. . . “– Gary Oetzel, DVM
Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, September 24, 2020. Link. Calcium is a key determinant of transition period success of failure. Clinical milk fever is not so common, but subclinical hypocalcemia affects more than half of mature cows.
Also see: Webinar: Calcium and the transition cow, Hoard’s Dairyman, September 14, 2020. Link. Oetzel shares recent findings and approaches to managing hypocalcemia.
INSIGHTS: Bovine veterinarians and sales representatives can proactively reinforce the importance of this health challenge with producers. The article contains the link to the webinar. It may not be dairy owners or herdsmen who need this education, so be sure to get the entire team aware of the calcium depletion story. Half of calving cows need their support.