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Cornell’s oral calcium study in dairy cattle shows unexpected benefits

A Cornell University study shows unexpected benefits from providing oral calcium to dairy cattle.  Dr. Bill Zimmer is with BioVet, which co-sponsored the study with the New York Farm Viability Institute.  He tells Brownfield the biggest surprise was in first-calf heifers.  “First-calf heifers that had a high body condition score, so they were overweight, probably going to suffer from some issues with fatty liver and things like that as lactation started, and then cows that were in-calf for more than 277 days which would probably be the ones that were over-conditioned as well.  Both of those groups of first-calf heifers responded with anywhere from six to seven pounds more milk per day over that four-month period.”

The study looked at what benefits could be seen across different categories of cows, and also tried to develop a simple cow-side blood test.  “We’re pretty much in line with other studies that have been done.  The cow-side meter, unfortunately, did not quite make it all the way up to the expectations of what it’s going to need to be in the industry, but it’s a starting point.  At least we can start looking at trying to develop that in the future.”

Zimmer says the-per cow investment of fewer than six dollars yielded a benefit of more than 40 dollars in 2^nd lactation and older cows.

As far as the younger heifers, Zimmer says only about 25% of them have low calcium to start with, but initial calcium levels didn’t dictate how the study animals responded to oral calcium.  He says energy status and body condition did change.  He looks forward to additional research, including how calcium, niacin, and anionic salt levels help manage subclinical hypocalcemia.

Brownfield’s Larry Lee talks to Dr. Bill Zimmer about the Cornell study: