EFFECT OF CALCIUM-CHLORIDE GEL TREATMENT IN DAIRY-COWS ON INCIDENCE OF PERIPARTURIENT DISEASES

Objective-To determine effect of prophylactic treatment of dairy cattl e with a calcium chloride gel on serum calcium concentration in the im mediate postpartum period and incidence of parturient paresis, retaine d fetal membranes, and displacement of the abomasum. Design-Randomized controlled trial. Animals-204 Holstein cows. Procedure-Cows were pair ed according to parity, whether they had previously had parturient par esis, and expected calving date. Cows in the treatment group received doses of calcium chloride gel 12 hours before expected carving, at cal ving, and 12 and 24 hours after calving. Cows in the control group did not receive calcium chloride gel. Results-Compared with concentration in the control COWS, mean serum calcium concentration in cows treated with calcium chloride gel was significantly increased on postcalving days 1 and 2. The increase was significant only in cows that were thir d parity or greater. Calcium chloride gel treatment also resulted in s ignificantly reduced incidence of parturient paresis, parturient hypoc alcemia, and displaced abomasum. The incidence of parturient paresis w as lower in cows that received the precalving dose of calcium chloride gel (0/39) than in cows that did not receive the precalving dose (5/6 3). Clinical implications-Results suggest that periparturient prophyla ctic treatment of dairy cattle with an oral calcium chloride gel may b e beneficial and that treatment would be most effective for cows of th ird parity or greater. Administration of a precalving dose of calcium chloride gel is necessary to reduce the incidence of parturient paresi s, but postcalving treatment alone has other beneficial effects.