Livestock

Milk Fever in Dairy Cows: Welfare and Prevention

Welfare-focused guide to bovine hypocalcaemia (milk fever) -- a painful metabolic disease of the transition period.

Key Facts

Milk fever affects 5-10% of dairy cows globally with rates as high as 25% in high-producing herds
It results from a sudden drop in blood calcium at calving as lactation begins
Affected cows become weak, progress to recumbency, and can die without treatment
Recumbent cows experience severe muscle weakness, cold extremities, and inability to rise
Cows that remain recumbent for more than 12 hours face secondary complications including pressure sores and nerve damage
Intravenous calcium treatment is rapidly effective -- most cows respond within an hour
Prevention includes dry cow nutrition management and oral calcium supplementation peri-calving
Subclinical hypocalcaemia without obvious signs is far more common and is associated with reduced immune function

Welfare Significance

Milk fever causes acute suffering -- the inability to rise, muscle tremors, and cardiovascular compromise are distressing. Cows left recumbent longer than 12 hours suffer secondary nerve and muscle damage that can make recovery impossible. Prevention through transition management is far more welfare-protective than relying on treatment.

What You Can Do

Implement a robust dry cow mineral nutrition programme with veterinary guidance
Monitor fresh cows closely in the first 48 hours after calving
Treat any cow showing signs of weakness or inability to rise immediately with calcium
Ensure all recumbent cows are turned regularly to prevent pressure sores