Differential effects of a single dose of oral calcium based on postpartum plasma calcium concentration in Holstein cows

Abstract

Our objectives were to determine (1) the effect of a single dose of an oral Ca bolus within 24 h after parturition on plasma Ca concentration, (2) the response of primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) cows to this supplementation strategy, and (3) differential responses based on plasma Ca at enrollment. For objective 1, cows from 1 commercial dairy in New York State were enrolled within 19 h after parturition (mean ± standard deviation = 8.3 ± 5.3 h) and randomized within parity group (first, second, and ≥third) to control [CON (n = 25); no placebo] or a single dose bolus treatment [BOL (n = 25); 3 oral Ca boluses supplying 54 to 64 g of Ca]. Plasma Ca was measured repeatedly between 1 and 24 h following treatment. For objectives 2 and 3, cows on 6 commercial farms in New York State were assigned to treatment as for objective 1 (CON, n = 1,973; BOL, n = 1,976). Herd records for health, reproduction, and Dairy Herd Improvement Association test day milk production were collected. Mixed effect multivariable models were developed using repeated measures ANOVA, Poisson regression, or proportional hazard models. Objective 2 analyses considered treatment with periparturient risk factors, whereas objective 3 analyses also considered Ca status. No difference was observed for plasma Ca between 1 and 24 h after treatment. Primiparous cows assigned to BOL calving at >712 d old had decreased risk of one or more health disorders [≤30 d in milk; risk ratio (RR) = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.51 to 0.84] and those with body condition score >3.5 responded to BOL with increased milk production (CON = 31.7 ± 1.1, BOL = 35.1 ± 1.1 kg/d), as did those with days carried calf >277 (CON = 31.9 ± 1.0, BOL = 34.7 ± 1.0 kg/d). Reduced risk of one or more health disorders was observed in parity ≥3 (RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.81 to 0.89) and MP cows with body condition score >3.5 (retained placenta; RR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.58 to 0.84) or that were lame (displaced abomasum; RR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.75). Differential responses for PP cows by Ca status were minimal. For MP cows with low plasma Ca, BOL decreased risk of additional Ca treatment (≤1.8 mmol/L; RR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.40 to 0.80) as well as risk of one or more health disorders (≤2.15 mmol/L; RR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.85 to 0.95). Supplementation with a single oral dose of Ca could be targeted to periparturient risk groups for improved health. Calcium status did not differentiate responses of PP cows, but MP cows with low Ca at parturition had improved health status when supplemented.

Effects of postpartum oral calcium supplementation on milk yield, milk composition, and reproduction in multiparous Jersey and Jersey × Holstein crossbreed cows

“…However, the results presented here are not affected by the lack of disease information. Although peripartum disease may influence the evaluated outcomes, previous research has shown that diseases such as retained placenta, metritis, displaced abomasum, and mastitis are affected by oral calcium supplementation (Leno et al, 2018), and therefore, even if the information was available, it should not be considered as a covariate in the statistical models.…”

“…Previous research conducted to assess long-term implications of postpartum oral calcium supplementation on Holstein cows observed minimal treatment effects at a group level, and suggests that productive and health responses to oral calcium supplementation are conditional to cow-level factors (parity, productive potential, gestation length, dry period length, and locomotion score), which also influence the direction of that response (Oetzel and Miller, 2012;Martinez et al, 2016b;Leno et al, 2018). Additionally, cow-level factors have also been associated with increased risk of hypocalcemia (Roche and Berry, 2006;Neves et al, 2017;Valldecabres et al, 2019).…”

Metaphylactic effect of calcium on milk composition and animal health in post-partum dairy cows

“…A study conducted by Jahani-Moghadam et al (2018) reported that oral Calcium bolus administration increased concentrations of calcium in serum on Day 2 post-partum in Holstein dairy cows, and increased first service conception rates, in cows fed a diet with a positive DCAD prior to calving compared to cows that received no oral Ca bolus supplementation. It is important emphasize that use of a single dose of calcium 24 h following parturition was reduced several risks, including retention placenta risk, mastitis, heart disease risk and displaced abomasum in multiparous cows (Leno et al 2018). Thus, treatment with oral calcium can be considered an approach to prevent not only hypocalcemia but also other disorders of dairy cows during the post-partum period.…”

Effectiveness of the use of complex biological and mineral compounds in alimentary osteodystrophy of lactating cows

“…In healthy cows, the level of calcium in blood does not change, but there is an increase in milk productivity. In cows with initially reduced levels of total calcium in blood, it increases and improves the general condition [15,16].…”