Milk fever (MF) is a metabolic disease in milk producing cows around calving. Clinical signs are muscular paralysis mainly of the legs with immobility of the affected animal. High milk producing breeds and older animals are most likely to be affected, and have a high chance of recurrence. An incidence of 5-10 % has been reported. The disease is caused by an acute drop in blood calcium (Ca) when initiating milk production depletes the blood Ca too fast for repletion from bone mobilization and intestinal uptake. With the understanding of the underlying mechanism, Ca supply management and vitamin-D (VD) supplementation became prime candidates for MF prevention and therapy.
In continuing the first study, tablets containing the Solanum glaucophyllum extract (SGE) in a instant-release (irSGE) and a slow-release form (srSGE) were combined into one bolus and applied to 31 cows 72-48 hours before calving. Total dose for the SGE bolus was 10 g SGE containing 50 m g/g 1,25D. as positive control acted 25 cows which received 4 calcium boli according to suppliers’ instruction and a untreated control group of 12 cows was included in the study.
The course of serum 1,25D, Ca and P is shown in figs. 1, 2 and 3. The occurrence of milk fever too low for statistical evaluation. The control animals (n=12) showed the expected reduction of serum Ca and P around calving. Treatment with high doses of Ca (n=25) was not able to prevent this reduction except at day 5 after calving for serum Ca. In contrast, treatment with one bolus SGE (n=23 calving’s within the application window of -72 to -24 hours a.p.) could increase 1,25D, Ca and P highly significant.
In conclusion, the present experiment showed that a single bolus of SGE was effective to prevent peri-parturient hypocalcaemia and -phosphataemia.
