Field trials of an oral calcium propionate paste as an aid to prevent milk fever in periparturient dairy cows

Trials were conducted to test the efficacy of a calcium propionate paste as an aid to prevent milk fever and to improve the health of dairy cows. Each calcium propionate treatment tube supplied 37 g of calcium. In trials involving Holstein herds and a Jersey herd, two (trials 1 and 2) or three (trial 3) calcium propionate tubes were given at calving and again at 12 h after calving. For the Jersey herd, calcium propionate treatment (two tubes) reduced the incidence of milk fever from 50% in control cows to 29% in treated cows. Plasma obtained 24 h after calving from treated cows had higher calcium, lower NEFA, and lower beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations than did plasma from control cows. No other benefits of calcium propionate treatment were significant for health or for productivity of the cows. Calcium propionate treatment had no significant effects on blood calcium, NEFA, or beta-hydroxybutyrate in the Holstein herds studied. However, calcium propionate did reduce the number of cows with subclinical hypocalcemia (< or = 7.5 mg/dl of plasma calcium) at 24 h after calving in both trials involving Holstein cows. Calcium propionate treatment was beneficial in reducing subclinical hypocalcemia in all trials and reduced the incidence of milk fever in a herd having a problem with milk fever.