The Relation of Prepartal and Postpartal Mineral Balances to the Occurrence of Parturient Paresis in Dairy Cows

Abstract

Much information is available in the scientific literature concerning the levels of various mineral elements in the blood of dairy cows at the time of parturition. It also is known that the blood levels of certain of these elements, e.g., Ca, Mg, P, differ greatly from normal in cows afflicted with parturient paresis (milk fever). Knowledge of the mineral levels in the blood of cows with this disorder is interesting, but without supporting information it does little to elucidate the etiology of the disease.