Hot Topic: Prevention of Parturient Paresis and Subclinical Hypocalcemia in Dairy Cows by Zeolite A Administration in the Dry Period

¹ The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Clinical Studies, Cattle Production Medicine Research Group, Dyrlaegevej 88, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark

To test the effects of a zeolite feed supplement on parturient calcium status and milk fever, two groups of dry cows were treated with either 1 kg of zeolite/d or none for 4 wk prepartum. At calving and d 1 and 2 after calving all cows were given 250 g of calcium carbonate as a drench, and a blood sample was taken. Serum calcium analysis revealed a greater calcium concentration in zeolite-treated cows. While three control cows contracted milk fever, necessitating intravenous calcium therapy, and six out of eight control cows experienced serum calcium levels below 2 mmol/L in one or more samples taken, none of the zeolite-treated cows contracted milk fever or experienced subclinical hypocalcemia.

Key Words: milk fever prevention • parturient hypocalcemia • zeolite A

Submitted on August 24, 2000
Accepted on November 2, 2000

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