Understanding Milk Fever And Calf Scours in Livestock Management

Milk Fever (Acute Hypocalcemia) In Cattle

Milk fever is a metabolic disorder commonly occurring in adult female cows around the time of calving/parturition. It is characterized by insufficient calcium levels, which can result in hypocalcemia, muscular weakness, circulatory collapse, and depression of consciousness.

Milk fever, also known as acute hypocalcemia, occurs when the calcium level in the blood drops below 1.6mmol/L. Symptoms include muscular weakness, subnormal temperature, increased heart rate, sternal recumbency, and loss of consciousness. The primary cause is the reduced ability of the animal to mobilize calcium from the bones.

In cattle, milk fever is caused by a depression of ionized calcium levels in tissue fluids, which is the basic biochemical defect. Serum calcium levels fall in all adult cows at calving, and the levels fall even more at the onset of lactation in cases of the disease with duplication syndrome.

There are three factors that affect calcium homeostasis:

1. Excessive loss of calcium in the colostrum beyond the capacity of absorption from the intestines and mobilization from bones to replace it.
2. Impairment of calcium absorption from the intestines during parturition.
3. Mobilization of calcium from storage in the skeleton may not be rapid enough to maintain normal serum levels.

Clinical Findings of Milk Fever in Cattle

When a cow experiences milk fever, it displays general symptoms of illness that manifest when blood calcium levels are low. These symptoms include lack of appetite, low body temperature, grogginess, and difficulty in producing manure and urine. This condition is also known as subclinical milk fever and typically occurs within 48-72 hours. The condition can be divided into three stages: brief excitement, sternal recumbency, and lateral recumbency.

During the brief excitement stage, the cow may show signs of restlessness, such as shaking her head, grinding her teeth, staring fearfully, and bellowing. The cow may also attempt to break loose but will eventually lie down on her brisket, with her head turned around over her shoulder, usually to the left. At this stage, the cow's breathing will be deep, and her heart rate will be increased. Ruminal stasis, constipation, and other characteristics may also be observed.

During the sternal recumbency stage, the cow will lie on her sternum, and it may be impossible to raise the jugular vein. In the lateral recumbency stage, the cow is almost unconscious, with legs slick out. Bloat may develop due to the positive concurrent hypomagnesemia, which has a modifying effect on signs such as Tatany and hyperesthesia that persist beyond the first stage. The extremities become cold during this stage. Milk fever can also occur in ewes and sows, where symptoms include restlessness, anorexia, lateral recumbence, and coma.

Postmortem findings of milk fever in cattle do not reveal any gross lesions unless there is a concurrent disease.

Diagnosis of Milk Fever in Cattle

The diagnosis of this condition depends on whether it occurs during parturition or within 2-3 days after, as well as the response to treatment with calcium solutions, local anemia (ischemia), and Downer cow syndrome. This condition follows milk fever and is characterized by prolonged recumbence, even after 2 successive calcium treatments. Additionally, there may be a traumatic injury to limb muscles and nerves, as well as ischemic necrosis of the limb.

Differential Diagnosis of Milk Fever in Cattle

When considering the differential diagnosis of milk fever in cattle, hypomagnesemia may accompany the condition and lead to continued hyperaesthesia and tetany, which can be complicated by hypophosphatemia.

In cases where the animal shows only a partial response to calcium treatment for ketosis, continued recumbence may be observed. Additionally, after the animal responds to calcium therapy, it may exhibit abnormal behaviors such as licking, circling, or an unusual voice.

Other potential diagnoses to consider include toxemia due to coliform mastitis (which can be identified by examining the udder), aspiration pneumonia (if the animal was lying on its side with ruminal contents present in the nostrils), acute peritonitis (which may be caused by perforation of the reticulum or uterus), and acute septic metritis.

In all of these cases, localized signs are present and the animal's temperature is usually subnormal instead of exhibiting an increased heart rate. Injuries to the hindquarters may also occur due to marked relaxation of the ligaments and pelvic girdle.

Finally, downer cow syndrome should also be considered as a potential diagnosis.

Treatment of Milk Fever in Cattle

When treating milk fever in cattle, administer 500 milliliters of 23 percent calcium gluconate intravenously, followed by two oral calcium boluses given 12 hours apart. However, do not administer the oral calcium bolus if the cow does not respond to the calcium IV treatment.

It is important to avoid giving any drugs orally if the cow has a lower fever, as her throat may be paralyzed, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Instead, parental injection of calcium salts is the standard practice.

When administering calcium boro gluconate as a 40% solution, give 400ml to provide 12g of calcium in one dose. It is important to inject this solution slowly intravenously, as rapid injection may lead to fatal heart failure.

If there is also a deficiency of magnesium and phosphorus, give a 20% calcium solution containing magnesium and phosphorus subcutaneously.

Signs of recovery of milk fever in cattle include; Cow sitting up, eructates (liberating ruminal gas), and Defecation (muscle power returning).

Prevention of Milk Fever in Cattle

To maintain a healthy appetite and prevent digestive problems in late pregnancy, it is recommended to increase the bulk of the food by feeding hay or straw. This will aid in overcoming transient gut stasis that may occur during early pregnancy.

During the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, it is important to avoid high lush wet pasture as it has a high concentration of calcium, which can create an imbalance of phosphorus. This can be detrimental to the animal's health.

To ensure proper nutrition, provide the animal with mineral lick ad lib. Additionally, it is crucial to monitor the intake of magnesium and phosphorous to prevent deficiencies.

Calf Scours

"Calf scours" refers to the condition where young calves experience diarrhea and dehydration. Diarrhea can appear as white, yellow, grey, or blood-stained, and often has a foul odor.

Scouring occurs when the amount of fluid lost through feces exceeds the amount taken in through oral intake, leading to dehydration. This condition is most commonly observed in calves that are suckled by their mothers in paddocks, as well as hand-reared calves.

Scouring is the most prevalent disease in young calves, and is the primary cause of death, accounting for 4% of all deaths among this population.

Causes of Calf Scours

The causes of calf scours are primarily infectious and are mainly attributed to rotavirus, coronavirus, or Cryptosporidium, which account for 95% of cases. Bacterial scours in calves are primarily caused by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), which appear to be the single most significant contributor.

Excessive consumption of milk can also lead to scours in calves, which is characterized by the loss of fluids through feces that are not replaced by additional oral intake, resulting in dehydration. This dehydration can lead to the thickening of the blood, making it harder for the heart to pump and ultimately resulting in poor circulation, a drop in body temperature, and a state of shock.

Bacteria have adhesive properties, which allow them to stick to the epithelial cells of the villi and produce toxins that stimulate an increased flow of fluid into the intestines. This increased flow of fluid is the intestine's defense mechanism to flush away the bacteria. As a result, the flow of fluids from the blood into the intestines increases from 41-61.

Note:

When it comes to calf scours, dehydration is the leading cause of death, and providing supplemental electrolytes is essential for any treatment protocol.

Viruses can harm the villi, which decreases the rate of water re-absorption. When scouring occurs, excessive water is lost through feces, and nutrients and salts are not absorbed properly.

Moreover, the villi's ability to generate digestive enzymes is reduced, which results in the fermentation of whole milk and lactose passing through to the large intestine, ultimately leading to diarrhea.

If there is excessive milk intake, resulting diarrhea will be yellow. On the other hand, if it's white scours due to E.coli, diarrhea will be white.

Treatment of Calf Scours

When treating calf scours, the top priority is to provide fluid therapy to replenish the water and electrolytes lost during the illness. This helps correct dehydration, restore normal acid-base balance, and replace salts in the calf's bodily fluids.

To prevent the spread of infection, separate scouring calves from others and maintain proper hygiene by cleaning the bucket and the calf regularly.

Make sure to use the correct milk substitute, at the right temperature, and feed the calf at regular intervals.

Disinfect the entrance to the calf pen to prevent the transmission of infection from one pen to another.

Before reintroducing calves, depopulate the calf house for cleaning and ensure the beddings are warm and dry.

Consider providing intestinal protectants such as kaolin to help protect the calf's intestines during and after treatment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, milk fever (acute hypocalcemia) is a metabolic disorder that commonly affects adult female cows during the calving period. Insufficient calcium levels can lead to various symptoms, including muscular weakness, circulatory collapse, and depression of consciousness. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with calcium solutions are crucial to managing milk fever in cattle.

Prevention plays a vital role in maintaining the health of cows and preventing milk fever. Measures such as providing a balanced diet, monitoring mineral intake, and avoiding high-calcium pasture during late pregnancy can help reduce the risk of this condition. Ensuring proper nutrition and monitoring the intake of magnesium and phosphorus are essential preventive strategies.

When it comes to calf scours, dehydration is the leading cause of death, and fluid therapy is crucial in treatment. Calf scours can be caused by infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria, as well as excessive milk consumption. Providing supplemental electrolytes, maintaining hygiene, and using appropriate milk substitutes are key aspects of managing calf scours.