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Milk Fever

Module by: Cody Zahler. E-mail the author

Summary: This module helps students learn about diagnosing milk fever, prescribing the appropriate treatment, and applying the appropriate treatment.

Challenge: Milk Fever

Unit: Cow Diseases

Subject: Large Animal Husbandry

Phase I

Set up the following scenario for your students: You notice that one of your cows has been staggering lately and also eating less. Upon further investigation you realize that this cow has given birth just days ago and that it has a slightly lower than average temperature. What do you do?  Have the students think about should be done and write it down.  At this point teach the students the content materials.

Phase II

At the end of class inform your students of the repercussions: If you gave supportive treatment and waited the problem will likely not have abated, and will become more threatening. However, if you gave the animal a calcium injection (or some other calcium supplement) the animal may have gotten better. If not you should have taken the animal to get veterinary care. The disease is likely milk fever.

Competencies

Core Competencies

  • Diagnosis of bovine diseases
  • Proscription of appropriate treatment
  • Apply appropriate treatment

Cross-Curricular Competencies

Data collection and problem solving

Content

  • What is Milk Fever: A condition of hypocalcemia in a cow that is near to the calving period
  • Cause: Calcium deficiency
  • Symptoms: The symptoms can be arranged into phases 1. Animal is excited, muscles stiffen and tremble, reluctant to move or eat, staggering 2. Cow lies down and cannot rise (sterna recumbency), sits up, head kinked toward body, lower body temperature, elevated heart rate and breathing 3. Cow lies on side (lateral recumbency) and is almost unconscious, bloat, regurgitation of rumen contents
  • Possible Complications: Death
  • Diagnosis: Must go off of the clinical signs
  • Treatment: 1. Prop cow up 2. Inject subdermal solution of calcium borogluconate or a combined mineral solution (ensure blood temperature before injection) behind shoulder blade 3. Rub area to enhance absorption into blood stream 4. May also require a intravenous injection (caution is needed as an improper injection can cause death) 5. Consult a veterinarian if situation does not improve or if you do not have any of the previous supplies 6. Remove calf and only partially milk cow

Prevention: 1. Keep dry cows on low calcium diet 2. Provide magnesium in diet 3. No milking prior to calving 4. Provide calcium supplement at calving 5. Remove only calf’s colostrums needs in first 24 hours 6. No milking out for 3-4 days after calving 7. Fresh food, water, clean conditions and other preventative measures.

Open Educational Resources

Figure 1
Figure 1 (graphics1.jpg)

http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/calving/notes/damcare.htm

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