Prevent Milk Fever with smaXtec
Milk fever is one of the most common metabolic disorders in dairy cows. Triggered by calcium deficiency or a disruption in calcium metabolism, milk fever often occurs during the critical period following calving, but it can also be an indication of a herd-level problem.
Milk fever and its impact
According to current research, up to 54% of cows in a herd are affected by clinical or subclinical milk fever. Subclinical cases are relatively common, often go undetected and can negatively impact both herd health and farm profitability. If left untreated, milk fever not only leads to health issues and production losses, it can also result in severe secondary conditions.
Dr. Jonathan Wallis, veterinarianCows suffering from milk fever are often more likely to have a retained placenta, develop ketosis or a displaced abomasum. Calcium deficiency is also commonly associated with reduced feed intake.
Milk production is significantly impacted, especially when milk fever occurs directly after calving. The risk of milk fever increases with parity and is more common in older cows. Without preventive measures, the condition can lead to long-term performance losses and, in severe cases, death. “Cows with milk fever often have a poor start to lactation, especially those with subclinical milk fever, which often goes unnoticed. These cows show lower pregnancy rates around 150 days in milk and reduced first-service conception rates,” confirms Dr. Jonathan Wallis.
Common symptoms of milk fever
- Lethargy, unsteady gait
- Loss of appetite
- Low water intake
- Reduced body temperature
- Reduced activity
- Inability to stand
Typical consequences of milk fever
- Milk loss
- Long-term reduction in performance
- Secondary conditions: ketosis, mastitis, retained placenta, displaced abomasum
- Fertility problems
- Culling
- Veterinary costs
Avoid economic losses
The cost of milk fever varies depending on the severity and progression of the condition. Scientific literature reports that clinical milk fever can cost between $300 to $600 per case, with an incidence rate of up to 20% of the herd. In a herd of 100 cows, assuming a 10% annual incidence rate and an average cost of $420 a case, costs can exceed $4,200. While subclinical cases incur lower average costs, around $113 per case, up to 50% of the herd may be affected, potentially leading to even greater economic damage.
Here’s a breakdown of the typical costs for a single case:
- Veterinary treatment & medication: $40
- Milk loss per case: approx. 990lbs or $176
- Extended calving interval: $40
- Replacement cow (heifer): $75
- Additional labor: $25
Total: $371 per clinical case
The good news: With smaXtec, you can take preventive action and minimize economic losses. “Metabolic imbalances around the time of calving often begin to develop before any clinical symptoms appear. These early warning signs can be detected by smaXtec, allowing for optimized prevention and helping to avoid the onset of clinical disease,” confirms veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Wallis. This is also supported by the consensus of current scientific studies.
Detect milk fever early and treat promptly with smaXtec
smaXtec enables early detection through highly precise and continuous monitoring of internal body temperature using TruTemp® technology (±0.01 °C/0.018 °F relative accuracy). After calving, smaXtec detects further drops in body temperature immediately. In addition to temperature, the system monitors key indicators such as water intake, drinking cycles, rumination activity, and movement.
Surveys among smaXtec users show that temperature and calving alerts help reduce disease-related costs by up to 40%.
The curve example already shows a significantly reduced rumination activity before calving. Shortly after calving, the smaXtec system triggered the alert “Reduced body temperature,” indicating another drop in temperature. Just half a day later, the alert “Drop in activity” pointed to the cow being down due to acute milk fever. Fortunately, the farmer was able to stabilize the cow by administering calcium, and rumination activity returned to normal over the following days.
Dan Lauderdale, Elkhorn, WisconsinWhen a cow is low on calcium, we can administer calcium before she becomes a down cow. If we can catch a cow right as she is getting sick, we can head off the big problem, where you need the vet to come out to assist you.
Best practices for managing milk fever
We recommend closely monitoring cows around the time of calving and taking timely preventive action when appropriate. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for smaXtec’s calving alerts. This increases the opportunity to catch milk fever early and allows for early veterinary intervention if needed.
If a cow shows signs of milk fever, take the following steps:
- Monitor cows closely and respond quickly to symptoms
- Administer calcium (bolus or IV infusion)
- Provide quick energy (e.g. propylene glycol, glucose)
- Drench if necessary
- Consult a veterinarian
Steve Harnish, Lancaster, PennsylvaniaWe can individually monitor every cow through her transition phase. From a calving alert to monitoring of rumination and body temperature. I have an alert about a possible metabolic disorder before there are any other clinical signs.
With smaXtec, you detect milk fever at the earliest possible stage, during the cow’s first immune response. The system recognizes drops in body temperature, reduced rumination and decreased movement long before clinical symptoms appear. With automated health alerts, powered by our advanced TruAdvice™ technology, you can act preventively, intervene faster and significantly improve animal health, reduce disease costs and save money.
For a healthier herd and sustainable success on your dairy!
