A comparative study of the effectiveness of calcium propionate and calcium chloride for the prevention of parturient paresis in dairy cows. 1998

B Pehrson, and C Svensson, and M Jonsson
Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden.

The efficacy of calcium propionate for the prevention of parturient paresis (milk fever) was compared with that of calcium chloride using 194 cows that had experienced milk fever during the previous calving. The cows were mainly of the Swedish Red and White and Swedish Friesian breeds and were divided randomly into an experimental group (n = 99) and a control group (n = 95). The cows in the experimental group received up to six boluses of 20 g of calcium as calcium propionate between 36 h before and 24 h after calving; the cows in the control group received up to four doses of 54 g of calcium as a commercially available oily solution of calcium chloride during the same period. Incidence of milk fever was recorded as the percentage of cows that were treated by a veterinarian because they showed clinical signs of the disease and had a blood calcium concentration less than 8.0 mg/dl. Twenty-five (25.3%) cows in the experimental group and 22 cows (23.2%) in the control group developed milk fever. The incidence of milk fever for cows in both groups was significantly lower than the 36.0% found in 713 cows that had experienced milk fever during their previous calving but received no prophylactic treatment. Therefore, calcium propionate was considered to have had a significant preventive effect, comparable with that of calcium chloride.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010319 Parturient Paresis A disease of pregnant and lactating cows and ewes leading to generalized paresis and death. The disease, which is characterized by hypocalcemia, occurs at or shortly after parturition in cows and within weeks before or after parturition in ewes. Milk Fever, Animal,Animal Milk Fever,Fever, Animal Milk,Pareses, Parturient,Paresis, Parturient,Parturient Pareses
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011422 Propionates Derivatives of propionic acid. Included under this heading are a broad variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the carboxyethane structure. Propanoate,Propanoic Acid,Propionate,Propanoates,Propanoic Acid Derivatives,Propanoic Acids,Propionic Acid Derivatives,Propionic Acids,Acid, Propanoic,Acids, Propanoic,Acids, Propionic,Derivatives, Propanoic Acid,Derivatives, Propionic Acid
D002118 Calcium A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002122 Calcium Chloride A salt used to replenish calcium levels, as an acid-producing diuretic, and as an antidote for magnesium poisoning. Calcium Chloride Dihydrate,Calcium Chloride, Anhydrous
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002418 Cattle Diseases Diseases of domestic cattle of the genus Bos. It includes diseases of cows, yaks, and zebus. Bovine Diseases,Bovine Disease,Cattle Disease,Disease, Bovine,Disease, Cattle,Diseases, Bovine,Diseases, Cattle
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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