Brenda Khan
Calcium is an essential mineral for cattle nutrition, and calcium deficiency is a common issue among high-yielding dairy cows. Oral calcium supplements are often used to prevent and treat calcium deficiencies, such as hypocalcemia, and to support bone health, muscle strength, and nerve function. Additionally, calcium is crucial for the production of colostrum during late gestation and early lactation. To add calcium to a cow's diet, oral supplements can be administered, and the diet can be supplemented with calcium-rich foods such as legumes, maize fodder, and tree leaves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why add calcium to a cow's diet? | Calcium is important for cows' skeleton tissue, muscle strength, nerve function, and gastrointestinal movement. |
| How to add calcium to a cow's diet? | Oral calcium supplements, calcium-fortified dairy-free drinks, calcium-fortified dairy-free plant-based products, calcium-fortified breakfast cereals, bread, bakery products, pulses, and tinned fish. |
| When to add calcium to a cow's diet? | Calcium supplements are appropriate for cows displaying early clinical signs of hypocalcemia and prophylactically to lessen the negative impacts of hypocalcemia. |
| How much calcium to add to a cow's diet? | A good mineral program for brood cows should cost about $10 to $20 per year. |
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What You'll Learn
Calcium supplements for cows
Calcium is an essential mineral for cattle nutrition and overall herd health. Calcium and phosphorus are the major mineral components of the skeleton, with 99% of total body calcium and 80% of total body phosphorus stored in the bones.
Calcium deficiency is common among high-yielding dairy cows. A calcium-deficient cow will not eat much, feel tired, and be unable to stand up. She will also produce less milk. Untreated, a cow deficient in calcium may die. To prevent calcium deficiency, it is recommended to not dehorn cows, allow them some sun exposure to produce vitamin D and absorb more calcium, and feed them calcium-rich foods such as legume fodders, maize fodder, and tree leaves.
Calcium supplements are commonly used to treat and prevent hypocalcemia in dairy cows. Hypocalcemia can manifest as clinical milk fever or subclinical hypocalcemia, the latter of which has a greater economic impact as it affects a higher proportion of cows. Oral calcium supplements can be used to mitigate the effects of both forms of hypocalcemia.
When selecting a calcium supplement, it is important to consider the form of the supplement. Minerals can be supplied in loose mix form, TMR (total mixed ration), or block form. Feeding minerals free-choice in a loose mix form is most desirable for brood cows. When supplementing in block form, trace minerals will be lower, and the block may not meet the animal's requirements for macrominerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Therefore, it is important to carefully read the label on a block mineral supplement to ensure it contains all the needed minerals.
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Calcium-rich food sources
Calcium is an essential mineral for cattle nutrition and overall herd health. Calcium deficiency is common among high-yielding dairy cows, and it can lead to reduced milk production and, in some cases, death. To prevent this, calcium can be added to a cow's diet in several ways.
One way to increase calcium intake is to provide cows with access to sunlight, which helps them produce vitamin D, aiding in calcium absorption. Additionally, feeding cows with calcium-rich foods such as legume fodders, maize fodder, and tree leaves can naturally boost their calcium levels.
Forage and feeding programs can also play a role in calcium supplementation. In Georgia, for example, a good mineral program for brood cows can cost as little as $10 to $20 per year. These programs aim to provide essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
Another option is to supplement with calcium-rich foods. Dairy-free sources of calcium include fortified dairy-free plant drinks, such as soya milk, rice milk, and almond milk. Fortified breakfast cereals, bread, and bakery products are also good options.
Finally, oral calcium supplements are available and appropriate for cows displaying early clinical signs of hypocalcemia or to proactively mitigate its negative impacts. These supplements can help support the cow's skeleton, muscle strength, nerve function, and gastrointestinal movement.
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Signs of calcium deficiency
Calcium is one of the most important macrominerals in a cow's diet, and a deficiency can have serious consequences. The most common symptom of calcium deficiency in cows is milk fever, also known as hypocalcemia. This condition usually occurs around the time of calving and is caused by a temporary blood calcium deficiency. Milk fever can be clinical or subclinical, with the former being more obvious and severe.
Clinical milk fever is characterised by severe calcium deficiency, and the affected cow will be unable to stand and will feel cold to the touch. This form of milk fever can be fatal. Subclinical milk fever, on the other hand, may not have obvious symptoms but can still have serious impacts. Cows with subclinical milk fever may experience reduced appetite, lower milk production, and increased susceptibility to diseases such as mastitis, retained placenta, endometritis, and uterine infections. Subclinical cases can also result in significant time, energy, and financial costs for farmers to restore the cow's health.
Older cows are generally more susceptible to milk fever than younger ones, and the risk increases during late pregnancy and early lactation when calcium demand is higher. In addition to age, other factors that can affect a cow's ability to regulate blood calcium levels include high levels of estrogen around calving, which inhibit calcium mobilisation, and reduced food intake during this vulnerable period.
To treat milk fever, intravenous infusion of 8-12 grams of calcium is recommended as soon as possible after the onset of clinical signs. Oral calcium supplements are also used to mitigate the effects of both clinical and subclinical milk fever and to lessen the negative impacts of hypocalcemia.
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Sunlight and calcium absorption
Sunlight plays a vital role in calcium absorption in cows. Vitamin D, which is synthesized by cows when exposed to sunlight, is essential for calcium absorption and bone health. Vitamin D helps to maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in the body, supporting the production of colostrum and milk. It also plays a role in nerve and muscle function, as well as overall health during the transition phase.
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble compounds that increase the intestinal absorption of calcium. The two primary forms of vitamin D are ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Sunlight exposure on the skin of cows converts cholesterol to 7-dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of vitamin D3. This process ensures that cows can obtain the necessary vitamin D for calcium absorption.
While sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, it is not the only factor that influences calcium absorption. Dietary sources of vitamin D, such as certain fish liver oils and sun-cured hay, can also contribute to adequate vitamin D levels. Additionally, oral calcium supplements are sometimes used to prevent or treat calcium deficiencies in cows, especially during the peripartum period. These supplements help to mitigate the negative impacts of hypocalcemia and support reproductive performance.
It is important to note that excessive calcium can reduce the absorption of phosphorus and other essential trace minerals. Therefore, maintaining the correct balance of calcium and other minerals in the diet is crucial for optimizing calcium absorption and overall herd health. Working closely with a nutritionist is recommended to ensure adequate vitamin D and calcium levels in the cow's diet and to prevent deficiencies.
Overall, sunlight exposure is a key factor in calcium absorption in cows through its role in vitamin D synthesis. However, a comprehensive approach to calcium management should also consider dietary sources of vitamin D and calcium, as well as the potential need for oral supplements to maintain optimal calcium levels and support cow health.
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Calcium requirements during lactation
Calcium is an essential nutrient for dairy cows, and it is the major mineral in the body. About 98% of the body's calcium is present in bones and teeth. Dairy cows excrete a large amount of calcium during lactation due to the high calcium content in milk. This means that the calcium requirements of lactating dairy cows are high relative to other species or non-lactating cows.
During the first few months of lactation, the dietary calcium intake is generally lower than the amount of calcium excreted in milk, faeces and urine. This can lead to the onset of subclinical hypocalcaemia (SCH) or even full-blown hypocalcaemia (Milk Fever). If dietary calcium is inadequate or unavailable, depletion of calcium from bone reserves occurs.
Oral calcium supplements are used to mitigate the effects of both forms of hypocalcaemia. Hypocalcaemia in dairy cattle can manifest as clinical milk fever or subclinical hypocalcaemia. Subclinical hypocalcaemia has the greatest economic effect because it affects a much higher proportion of cows. Oral calcium supplements are appropriate for cows displaying early clinical signs of hypocalcaemia and prophylactically to lessen the negative impacts of hypocalcaemia.
Calcium requirements and maximum tolerable levels for beef cattle are shown in some sources. Calcium and phosphorus are the major mineral components of the skeleton. Ninety-nine per cent of total body calcium and 80% of total body phosphorus are stored in the bones. The skeletal stores of calcium and phosphorus are used to meet short-term dietary inadequacies.
Legume and grass forages have similar phosphorus content but divergent calcium content, with legumes having much higher calcium levels. During early lactation, cows typically cannot meet their energy requirements and are expected to lose weight.
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Frequently asked questions
Legume fodders, maize fodder, and tree leaves are natural sources of calcium that can be added to a cow's diet.
A cow deficient in calcium does not eat much, is cold to touch, looks tired, and is unable to stand up.
Oral calcium supplements are used to mitigate calcium deficiency in cows.
Allowing cows to have some sun will help them produce vitamin D and absorb more calcium.
Pulses such as beans, baked beans, lentils, and tofu are calcium-rich foods that are not milk-based.
