Abstract

MAINTENANCE OF CALCIUM HOMEOSTASIS AND PREVENTION OF METABOLIC DISORDERS BY SUPPLEMENTING IONIC ORAL CALCIUM IN CATTLE

Praveen Kumar, M.J. Saxena, K. Ravikant, Shivi Maini, Adarsh*

ABSTRACT

The periparturient cows undergo a transition from non-lactating to lactating at calving. These animals are tremendously challenged to maintain calcium homeostasis. Those who fail can develop milk fever, a clinical disorder that is life threatening to the cow and predisposes the animal to a variety of other metabolic disorders. Then present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an oral ionic calcium supplement AV/CGC/18 (supplied by M/S Ayurvet Limited, Baddi, H.P., India) and Caldhan V in high yielder, moderate yielder and dry dairy cattle. The product AV/CGC/18 administered once daily for two subsequent days. The second dose was repeated between 24-48 hrs after first dose administration, followed with administration of Caldhan V @50 ml twice daily from day 2nd - day 30th. Oral administration of AV/CGC/18 and Caldhan V lead to increase in serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels. After treatment with AV/CGC/18 and Caldhan V, a 16.9% and 28.5% increase in milk yield was observed in Group I and Group II. AV/CGC/18 served as a quick source of calcium. Supplementation of AV/CGC/18 and Caldhan V was found to be efficacious in maintaining uniform calcium homeostasis and to prevent calcium deficiency metabolic disorders in high, moderate and dry crossbred cows.

Keywords: AV/CGC/18, hypocalcaemia, Compton’s metabolic profile test and milk yield.