Calcium for Cattle: Use the Best Calcium Feed Supplements for Dairy Animals (2024)

A report suggests over 80% of the world population relies on the dairy industry as an essential source of nutrition. In addition to fulfilling the nutritional needs of billions of people, dairy farming acts as a means to employment generation in many geographical and societal localities spread across the world. It plays a crucial role in sustaining local, national, and global economies.

Cattle Health depends on Calcium!

If you own cows and buffaloes for dairy farming, cattle rearing, and animal husbandry, preserving the good health of cattle is imperative.

Calcium is one of the most vital minerals to maintain the health and welfare of your cattle and ensure optimum milk production. An estimated 98% of the mineral is present in the bone and teeth of the cattle. The remaining amount is present in the blood, muscle, and other tissues.

• Without the CA mineral, the cattle will not be able to build bones and muscles. And, even though the animal may reach the necessary liveweight number because of adequate feed intake, too much fat will affect its performance.
• Cows and buffaloes require calcium for the production of milk and colostrum.
• It is necessary for optimum nerve and muscle function.
• It is crucial for maintaining cattle health during the transition phase (parturition, calving, lactation, etc.). Adequate CA levels help with normal contraction of the uterus & timely expulsion of the placenta.
• Optimum calcium metabolism will influence reproduction capacity and feed conversion efficiency.
• If the blood calcium level is inadequate, the body will rely on skeletal calcium storage for lactation, thus weakening the cattle bone structure and impacting their overall health. It increases the risk of bone fractures.
• Inadequate calcium supply can lead to slow growth, cause growth abnormalities, and impact the growth rate in young cattle.

Inadequate and smaller bone structure affects the health of cattle for its life. If the skeletal growth is not optimum at the time of mating, it may not improve significantly while calving. Also, it may affect the fetus as it relies on the heifers to ensure adequate calcium supply.

Additionally, as calving approaches, the cow/buffalo will eat less because of a change in hormones. It means the animal will receive a reduced supply of CA, especially when it requires more. And, reduced calcium levels will further cause a reduction in appetite, creating a vicious cycle of malnutrition and poor health. It can also cause hypocalcemia/milk fever, a common bovine calcium deficiency disorder. So, you must maintain adequate levels of calcium from the very beginning.

How to prevent Calcium Deficiency in Cows, Buffaloes, and other Cattle?

Preventing low calcium levels in cattle is essential for their welfare, and it also ensures the success of your business. Calcium-deficient cattle can lead to higher vet and nutritionist fees, an increased cost of drugs and medicines, and lost milk production.

In addition to maintaining an optimum calcium level during calving and lactation, you must also provide optimum calcium supplements in the dry period. If you give higher calcium amounts in the dry period, it can lead to sub-optimal calcium metabolization during calving.

Here's how you improve calcium mobilization and guarantee adequate reserves in the body:

• Usually, 100ml of calcium supplementation is necessary for cows, buffaloes, horses, and camels. Although, you must discuss the health of your cattle with the nutritionist or the local veterinarian and maintain adequate feed intake.
• Find out the daily calcium requirements for dry cattle and lactating ones. Look for calcium-mobilizing strategies and provide long-term calcium supplementation to your cattle.

How to supplement/increase Calcium in Cows and Buffaloes?

Choose oral calcium supplement for cattle to prevent low levels of blood calcium and avoid unnecessary depletion of mineral reserves in the body. Also, available as veterinary calcium gel, calcium supplements are easy to administer and show fast results.

Liquid calcium supplements are necessary immediately after parturition and calving to replenish calcium loss through milk and colostrum. It will avoid the occurrences of milk fever. It will help in improving blood calcium levels to keep your cows above the sub-clinical levels of hypocalcemia.

Choose liquid calcium supplements fortified with added vitamins and minerals so that the cattle can absorb and metabolize the mineral efficiently. A few cattle feed supplements manufacturers sell oral calcium feed supplements with natural extracts such as Giloy, Jivanti, and Shatavari to enhance the health of your dairy animals. So, consider different product options and choose wisely to improve cattle health & maintain your business.

Choose the best liquid calcium feed supplement manufacturer in India. Work with Foodicine to buy top-rated animal nutrition supplements to ensure optimum cattle health.