Effect of intravenous calcium borogluconate and sodium phosphate in cows with parturient paresis.

Thirty cows with parturient paresis were divided into three groups of 10. All the cows were given 500 ml of a 40 per cent calcium borogluconate solution intravenously over a period of 10 minutes, and 20 were also given 500 ml of a 10 per cent solution of sodium phosphate intravenously; in 10 of the cows this solution was administered over a period of 10 minutes immediately after the calcium borogluconate solution, and in the other 10 cows 200 ml of the solution was administered rapidly and the remaining 300 ml was added to 10 litres of sodium chloride and glucose solution and infused slowly over six hours. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the outcome of the treatments; six or seven of the cows in each group stood within eight hours of the treatment. There were no significant differences between the changes in serum calcium concentrations among the groups. The mean concentrations of inorganic phosphorus in the groups given sodium phosphate were increased above the normal range initially, but after eight hours there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the numbers of cows that were hypophosphataemic. There were no significant differences between the three groups with respect to changes after treatment in the serum concentrations of magnesium or parathyroid hormone.

[Efficacy and tolerance of a calcium-magnesium-aspartate solution in the treatment of hypocalcemic parturient paresis in cows]. / Zur Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit einer Kalzium-Magnesium-Aspartat-Lösung bei der Behandlung der hypokalzämischen Gebärparese des Rindes.

The systemic tolerance of a solution of calcium aspartate and magnesium aspartate was studied in 7 cows. Intravenously administered dosages of 500 ml per cow were well tolerated. A twofold increase of the serum calcium concentration was measured. In 2 cows which were treated with 1000 ml of the solution a threefold increased calcium concentration and heart arrhythmia were found. The clinical efficacy of the solution was demonstrated in a study with 44 hypocalcemic cows. A long lasting increase of the serum calcium as well as an enhanced phosphorus concentration were measurable. In conclusion, the calcium-magnesium-aspartate solution seems to be an efficacious and well tolerated alternative for the treatment of hypocalcemia in cows.

Hypocalcemia at parturition as a risk factor for left displacement of the abomasum in dairy cows.

Total and ionized serum calcium concentrations were measured in 510 Holstein cows at the time of parturition. Cows that subsequently developed left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) were compared with those that did not. Cows that were hypocalcemic at parturition had a 4.8 times greater risk of developing LDA than did normocalcemic cows. Hypocalcemia was associated with the development of LDA whether ionized serum calcium concentration or total serum calcium concentration was used to determine whether cows were hypo- or normocalcemic. The proportion of cows developing LDA was not significantly different between cows that had clinical signs of hypocalcemia and were treated for parturient paresis and cows that were hypocalcemic, but did not have clinical signs and were not treated.

Treatment and control of an outbreak of fat cow syndrome in a large dairy herd.

An outbreak of fat cow syndrome occurred in a herd of 300 Friesian and Friesian/Holstein dairy cows calving predominantly between January and May. The herd came in off grass in good condition despite a long and hot summer. The dry cows received a diet of grass silage, brewing waste and minerals until the end of December, but the grass silage was butyric and was partially replaced by maize silage. By January 23, 16 of 70 calving cows (23 per cent) had appeared to suffer milk fever. Subsequent blood tests revealed that the cows may have been ketotic, and clinical and post mortem examination showed that they were probably suffering from fat cow syndrome. The freshly calved sick cows were treated with glucose, and corticosteroids were injected every second day into those which remained ill. The cattle had received a high energy diet, but the cows still to calve were placed on a diet of low metabolisable energy (77 MJ/cow) but adequate levels of undegradable protein. The problem was associated with a possible clostridial infection in two cows and with reduced fertility.

Effect of prostaglandin treatment on the fertility of problem cows.

Four autumn-calving dairy herds were selected to investigate the effect of an injection of prostaglandin in the period 14 to 28 days (mean 22 days) after calving on subsequent fertility. The cows were selected on the basis of having a condition likely to affect their fertility, including assisted calving, endometritis, retained fetal membranes, milk fever, cows with five or more lactations, cows having twins, or a combination of any of these conditions. They were assigned to treatment or control groups and paired as closely as possible on the basis of their condition and date of calving. Milk progesterone concentrations were measured on the day of treatment and then three and 10 days later. The trial ran for four months and involved 90 treated and 90 control cows. The combined data from all the animals in the trial failed to show any difference between the calving to conception interval, the first service conception rate or the numbers of services per conception of the treated and control groups. A Student's paired t test for groups of cows with a particular condition, both within individual herds and in all the herds, failed to show any significant effect of treatment (P greater than 0.05). Milk progesterone data showed that the presence of a corpus luteum did not influence the outcome of prostaglandin treatment. There was no evidence for excessive failure of luteolysis. It was concluded that there was no benefit in a routine injection of prostaglandin to dairy cows in the period 14 to 28 days after calving when re-breeding commenced more than 70 days after calving.

Change of milk yield with clinical diseases for a high producing dairy herd.

Changes in milk production associated with occurrence of clinical diseases (dystocia, stillbirth, twin births, milk fever, retained placenta, displaced abomasum, limping due to foot lesions, metritis, ketosis, and mastitis) were investigated. Data were collected daily on 388 lactation. Stepwise least squares regression was used to evaluate existence of associations between diseases and six yield measures that characterized milk production in the first 119 d postpartum. Logistic regression was used to investigate whether milk yield 1 to 5 d in milk might be of use to detect cows with early postpartum metritis (less than 21 d after calving). Lower milk production to 5 d postpartum was associated with an increased risk of early postpartum metritis in the logistic regression model. Yield to 5 and to 21 d postpartum was lower in cases of stillbirth, retained placenta, and early postpartum metritis. Yield from 22 to 49 d postpartum remained lower in cows diagnosed with early postpartum metritis. Milk yield losses occurred during diagnosis and treatment of displaced abomasum and mastitis. Ketosis was associated with yield losses prior to and at treatment. Ketosis to 21 d in milk was also associated with lower production after treatment. Limping diagnosed in the first 49 d postpartum coincided with higher yield to 5 d, to 21 d, and after 49 d postpartum.

Effect of diseases, production, and season on traumatic reticuloperitonitis and ruminal acidosis in dairy cattle.

Logistic regression was used to investigate the effects of host characteristics, production, and 23 veterinary diagnoses on the risks of two reticuloruminal disorders, ruminal acidosis and traumatic reticuloperitonitis among 61,124 Finnish Ayrshire cows. Lactational incidence risks were .3% for ruminal acidosis and .6% for traumatic reticuloperitonitis. The relative risk of ruminal acidosis was not related to parity, whereas the risk of traumatic reticuloperitonitis decreased with increasing parity. The risk of traumatic reticuloperitonitis was not related to milk yield of individual affected cows in their current or previous lactation (305-d, 4% FCM), whereas the risk of ruminal acidosis increased with current milk yield. Ketosis, early metritis, nonparturient paresis, and acute and chronic mastitis were risk factors for both reticuloruminal disorders. Parturient paresis was a risk factor for ruminal acidosis. Foot and leg problems were risk factors for traumatic reticuloperitonitis. Herd milk yield in the current or previous lactations was not a risk factor for either disorder nor were the two disorders risk factors for each other. Ruminal acidosis, but not traumatic reticuloperitonitis, had significant seasonal variation with the risk being least in summer. The low risk of ruminal acidosis in summer was not due to seasonality of calving.

Association of parturient hypocalcemia with eight periparturient disorders in Holstein cows.

The association between parturient hypocalcemia and 8 periparturient disorders (dystocia, retained fetal placenta, metritis, left displaced abomasum, foot problems, ketosis, mastitis, and coliform mastitis) was evaluated in 33 Holstein dairy herds (2,190 cows) that calved from March 1981 through February 1982. There were highly significant (P less than 0.0001) associations between parturient hypocalcemia and dystocia, retained fetal placenta, ketosis, and mastitis. The odds ratios (multiplicative increases in occurrence) for these associations were 6.5, 3.2, 8.9, and 8.1, respectively. There was a significantly (P less than 0.03) association between parturient paresis and coliform mastitis (odds ratio, 9.0). There was a tendency for association with left displaced abomasum (odds ratio, 3.4; P less than 0.06).

Hypocalcaemia and Q-oTc interval in cows with parturient paresis.

The degree of hypocalcaemia was determined from serum total, and serum ionized calcium concentrations in 27 cows with parturient paresis. Electrocardiographic recordings were made just before the start of the intravenous calcium treatment. The T-oTc interval was determined, but could only be adequately measured in 16 cases because of inherent difficulties in recording from paretic animals. No significant correlation was found between the degree of hypocalcaemia and Q-oTc interval, whether the hypocalcemia was determined from serum total or serum ionized calcium concentrations. This study indicated that measurement of the Q-oTc interval was of very little value as a clinical test for detection of hypocalcaemia and indication of the degree of hypocalcaemia in parturient paresis.

Fat cow syndrome.

The objective of this paper is to characterize the fat cow syndrome. This condition refers to a combination of metabolic, digestive, infectious, and reproductive conditions which affects the obese periparturient cow. The condition develops primarily due to faulty feed management which permits excessive consumption of unbalanced diets. The syndrome is frequently a herd problem characterized by a high morbidity and mortality due to an increase in disease in periparturient cows. Clinical signs include depression, anorexia, ketonuria, marked decrease in production, progressive debilitation, weakness, nervous signs, and an elevation in temperature due to infectious disease. The obesity is generalized throughout the body with extensive fatty metamorphosis in the liver. Histological changes are primarily in the liver and kidney. Treatment of the condition consists of feeding a balanced diet, symptomatic treatment, and good supportive care. The condition can be prevented by feeding a balanced diet according to nutrient requirements of the National Research Council.

Calcium redistribution into subcutaneous fat at parturition in the dairy cow.

Blood samples and subcutaneous fat biopsies from six dairy cows at -14, 0, 14, and 28 days of parturition were analyzed to test the hypothesis that movement of calcium into subcutaneous fat contributes to hypocalcemia of parturient paresis. Plasma and subcutaneous fat calcium decreased while plasma free fatty acids increased at parturition. No trends were significant in magnesium or total lipid content of subcutaneous fat. Calcium content of subcutaneous fat was related positively to calcium concentration in plasma.

[Parturient hypocalcaemia prevention in parturient cows prone to milk fever by dietary measures (author's transl)]. / De preventie van melkziekte door voedingsmaatregelen bÿ kalvende koeien met een melkziekte geschiedenis

Dietary measures designed to prevent low postparturient plasma calcium concentrations were tested in dry dairy cows in Hoorn during a number of weeks before and after calving for a period of five years (1967-1972). Approximately 170 cows prone to milk fever took part in these trials. The effects of various concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the rations, a day's fasting, feeding below energy and protein requirements as well as those of intravenous and intramuscular infusion of EDTA (ethylenediamine-tetra-acetate) on the calcium, phosphorus and magnesium plasma levels and on the haematocrit value of the blood were studied in these trials. Dietary measures by which the postparturient plasma calcium levels were kept within normal limits in a trial with forty-five calving cows prone to milk fever, were based on the results obtained. These forty-five cows were fed a diet low in calcium (33.1-43.9 g. of calcium daily) during the dry period. After calving, they were given a diet high in calcium (148.3-196.3 g. of calcium daily). The diet was adequate as regards energy, protein, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D requirements. Milk fever did not occur in these cows and only four animals showed a decrease in plasma calcium to less than 7.5 mg/100 ml. The following dietary measures are recommended to prevent parturient hypocalcaemia. (1) During the dry period, cows should be fed rations containing the lowest possible concentrations of calcium (for instance, smaller than 0.50 per cent of calcium in the dry matter of the total ration). Phosphorus and vitamin D intakes should be adequate. (2) The intestinal calcium intake should be increased immediately after calving. This may be achieved by administration of 250 g. of calcium carbonate in the form of an aqueous suspension which is fed orally by bottle. The concentration of calcium in the rations should also be increased (greater than 1.0 per cent of calcium in the dry matter). Phosphorus and vitamin D intakes should again be adequate. (3) Additional administration of 30 g. of magnesium daily before and after calving is advisable to prevent not only low plasma magnesium levels but also grass-tetany-like symptoms after calving.