Milk Fever Control Principles: A Review

Abstract

Thilsing-Hansen T, Jørgensen RJ, Østergaard S: Milk fever control principles: A review. Acta vet. scand. 2002, 43, 1-19. -Three main preventive principles against milk fever were evaluated in this literature review, and the efficacy of each principle was estimated from the results of controlled investigations. Oral calcium drenching around calving apparently has a mean efficacy of 50%-60% in terms of milk fever prevention as well as prevention of milk fever relapse after intravenous treatment with calcium solutions. However, some drenches have been shown to cause lesions in the forestomacs. When using the DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) principle, feeding rations with a negative DCAD (measured as (Na + K) -(Cl + S)) significantly reduce the milk fever incidence. Calculating the relative risk (RR) of developing milk fever from controlled experiments results in a mean RR between 0.19 and 0.35 when rations with a negative versus positive DCAD are compared. The main drawback from the DCAD principle is a palatability problem. The principle of feeding rations low in calcium is highly efficient in milk fever prevention provided the calcium intake in the dry period is kept below 20 g per day. Calculating the relative risk (RR) of developing milk fever from controlled experiments results in a very low mean RR (between 0 and 0.20) (daily calcium intake below versus above 20 g/d). The main problem in implementing the low-Ca principle is difficulties in formulating rations sufficiently low in calcium when using commonly available feeds. The use of large doses of vitamin D metabolites and analogues for milk fever prevention is controversial. Due to toxicity problems and an almost total lack of recent studies on the subject this principle is not described in detail. A few management related issues were discussed briefly, and the following conclusions were made: It is important to supply the periparturient cow with sufficient magnesium to fulfil its needs, and to prevent the dry cows from being too fat. Available information on the influence of carbohydrate intake, and on the effect of the length of the dry period and prepartum milking, is at present insufficient to include these factors in control programmes. dairy cows; parturient hypocalcaemia; milk fever prevention.

Pathogens transmitted in animal feces in low- and middle-income countries

“… Reservoirs are primarily humans and aquatic environments/organisms ( Janda et al, 1983 ); pathogen has been isolated from other animals but not linked to human health outcomes ( Parker and Shaw, 2011 ) Brucella spp. Most zoonotic transmission occurs when humans assist in birthing animals, or from eating unpasteurized milk products; these bacteria do not survive well in the environment; while animal contact may be an important risk factor, exposure to animal feces in the domestic setting does not seem to be an established exposure route to humans ( Atluri et al, 2011 ) Chlamydia trachomatis Transmitted human-to-human via Musca sorbens ; while animal feces may provide a breeding area for this vector, the preferred breeding area is human feces ( Emerson et al, 2001 ); exposure to animal feces in the household not considered the transmission route Diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) Hosts unknown and may not include animals ( Croxen et al, 2013 ) Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) Isolated in animals but this is not thought to be a source of human infections ( Okhuysen and DuPont, 2010 ) Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) Limited animal hosts (primates) ( Croxen et al, 2013 ) Enterotoxogenic E. coli (ETEC) Zoonotic strains not pathogenic to humans: adhesion factors are species-specific ( Torres, 2010 ; Wasteson, 2002 ) Helicobacter pylori Generally human-to-human transmission; the role of animals and food is controversial ( Safaei et al, 2011 ; Vale and Vítor, 2010 ) Klebsiella spp. Generally considered commensals, but may cause opportunistic infections in the immunocompromised; however, given low pathogenicity unlikely to contribute substantially to burden of disease ( Ristuccia and Cunha, 1984 ) Leptospira spp.…”

Effect of induced hypocalcemia in nonlactating, nonpregnant Holstein cows fed negative DCAD with low, medium, or high concentrations of calcium

“…Unexpectedly, cows fed the LC diet were not as resistant to the hypocalcemia challenge as the HC treatment group. However, given the dietary forages fed, the LC treatment group received 57 g/d of Ca rather than the <20-g/d level determined to be the maximum level for activation of the negative feedback loop for Ca homeostasis through bone resorption (Goff and Horst, 1997;Thilsing-Hansen et al, 2002). Additionally, we determined that the use of an inexpensive, cow-side meter, the Horiba LAQUAtwin iCa meter was not adequate for measuring iCa concentrations compared with the Abbott VetScan iSTAT.…”

Genetic parameters of subclinical macromineral disorders and major clinical diseases in postparturient Holstein cows

“…Macromineral-related disorders usually resolve by the end of the first week postcalving but their effects are long-lasting, impairing milk production and reproductive efficiency of dairy cows (Goff, 2006b). Despite the extensive knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of macromineral-related disorders and the various management practices that may alleviate them (Thilsing-Hansen et al, 2002;Goff, 2004;Mulligan et al, 2006), problems are still common. Disease incidence rates, even in many well-managed herds, still remain unacceptably high (Mulligan and Doherty, 2008).…”