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Studies on Milk Fever in Dairy Cows.¹ II. The Effect of Vitamin D on Some of the Blood Changes in Normal and Milk Fever Cows at Parturition

Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio

ABSTRACT

1. Determinations were made on the blood serum for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and phosphatase, and on whole dried blood for vitamin D content, of control cows and cows fed 1 and 2 million units of vitamin D daily for four weeks before and one week following parturition, fresh normally and with milk fever. Cows of the Jersey, Holstein, Ayrshire, and Guernsey breeds were included in the study.
   
2. Data are presented regarding the serum protein, plasma carotene, vitamin A, and ascorbic acid of Jersey cows that freshened normally and with milk fever.
   
3. A study was made of the specific gravity, total solids, ash, fat, total protein, carotene, and vitamin A in the colostrum of normal and milk fever cows fed various amounts of vitamin D.
   
4. No effect on the serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, or phosphatase was observed when 1 million units of vitamin D in the form of irradiated dry yeast were fed daily for four weeks previous to freshening and for one week thereafter. When 2 million units of vitamin D were fed, a slight increase in both serum calcium and phosphorus was noted. This was accompanied by a slight decrease in serum magnesium. It was found that both serum calcium and phosphorus decrease markedly during a few hours prior to the milk fever attack, the lowest level being reached after the symptoms appear. A concurrent increase in the serum magnesium usually occurs.
   The level of the blood vitamin D was found to be approximately double the normal level when 1 million units of vitamin D were fed and about four times the normal level when 2 million units of vitamin D were fed.
   Before increases in the serum calcium and phosphorus level of the blood can be obtained, sufficient to lower milk fever incidence, apparently more than 2 million units of vitamin D must be fed daily before freshening. Experiments are now in progress to determine the effect of feeding larger amounts of vitamin D on the blood picture and the incidence of milk fever.
   It is of interest that some of the lowest blood vitamin D values obtained occurred in control cows during the milk fever attack; however, when vitamin D was fed milk fever occurred even though the blood level of vitamin D was relatively high. The decrease in the blood vitamin D of control cows at parturition is considered to be associated with the production of colostrum.
   
5. The decreases observed in serum protein and plasma vitamin A and carotene at parturition are considered to be associated with the production of colostrum which is particularly rich in these constituents. No significant change in the level of plasma ascorbic acid was noted at parturition.
   
6. No significant difference was noted in the composition of colostrums between cows that freshened normally and those which developed milk fever.
   
7. The blood serum calcium-magnesium relationship is discussed in regard to its possible effect on the symptomatology of milk fever.
   

¹ This work was supported by a grant from Standard Brands Incorporated, 595 Madison Avenue, New York City, to whom the authors herewith extend grateful acknowledgment.

² N. E. Van Demark assisted in obtaining the data from the Ohio State University herd.

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