FreshCalc Calcium D3 boluses for cows

BACK IN STOCK

Simple way to boost calcium in new calved cows-

• one bolus at calving
• one bolus approx 12 hours later
• can be doubled up for high risk cows as an aid to preventing milk fever in dairy cows
• the "powder in a capsule" design gives a very fast release of the compenents into the rumen fluid and so absorption into the cows blood. The aim is to keep the cows appetite up and her eating her ration. Afterall the calcium supply has to come from her feed!

Calcium mobilisation from the cow’s body at calving can lag behind the sudden increase in demand for calcium created by the udder as it begins producing milk for the newborn calf.

This can cause the blood calcium level to fall and result in a case of milk fever (hypocalcaemia). A fall to half of the normal level of calcium is a serious and potentially fatal situation that can happen within hours of calving down.

More common than cases of milk fever is sub-clinical hypocalcaemia which may have no symptoms yet herd studies have shown that up to half of dairy cows can be affected by sub-clinical hypocalcaemia after each calving.

Sub-clinical levels of lower than normal blood calcium immediately after calving increase the risk of a number of problems including:

·         milk fever

·         metritis

·         retained cleansing

·         endometritis or whites

Why use a calcium bolus? - FreshCalc Calcium D3 Boluses deliver two forms of calcium to the newly calved cow with calcium entering the bloodstream within minutes, plus one form aids the absorption of calcium from other sources. 

Vitamin D3 is vital for absorbing calcium from the gut and FreshCalc Calcium D3 Boluses contain D3 to help the cow in maintaining her calcium balance after calving. 

How do you give a calcium bolus? Boluses are quickly administered and a free stainless steel bolus gun is supplied with new orders – just mention you are a new customer on the online order form or when calling if you need one.

We often get asked-

Q. How many grams of Calcium are in the FreshCalc ?

A. 

FreshCalc Calcium D3  Bolus-  77% Calcium x90g=   69 g, but its all rapidly available, so then the cow eats its ration which is where large amounts of calcium are. Plus Vitamin D3 increases gut absorption and bone mobilisation of Calcium. Magnesium works as a coenzyme to mobilse calcium from bone too.

Other products available may have more calcium, but Calcium Carbonate, Sulphate and Calcified seaweed, but are slow release and have no D3 vitamin.

FreshCalc Calcium D3 Boluses are available in either 20 or 125 quantity tubs through farm health distributors, contact us on 01772 690131 for your nearest stockist.

G Shepherd Animal Health also delivers direct to farmers. Free next-day on-farm delivery is available either using the 24-hour online form or by calling us on 01772 690131.

What is a calcium bolus? There are several brands available, but we favour FreshCalc D3 bolus. It is a smooth capsule with rounded ends which allows us to use powdered and so fast-acting ingredients.