Should you delay oral calcium bolus supplementation for fresh cows?

“Subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) is an invisible threat to both the dairy cow and producer. As nearly 45 percent of multiparous cows experience SCH during the early lactation period, producers can implement dietary strategies such as feeding negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) rations in the late dry period or administering prophylactic calcium treatments to fresh cows to minimize the risk of SCH.”

“The results of our study support previous reports suggesting that oral calcium supplementation benefits a subgroup of cows. Taking this into consideration, administering calcium boluses to high-producing, lame, or older cows may be financially advantageous for producers as blanket treating every cow is costly and the financial gains from improved milk production are only realized in select groups.”

Read the full article by Claira Seely and Jessica McArt with Progressive Dairy