Subclinical Hypocalcemia: Rethinking an old problem

KEY TAKEAWAYS IN THIS ISSUE OF TECHNICAL TOPICS:

• A reduction of blood calcium after calving is needed to provide negative feedback for the animal and allow for the metabolic changes that will maintain blood calcium levels during lactation.
• Measuring blood calcium at calving or within the first 24 hours is an unreliable method for determining Subclinical Hypocalcemia.
• Cows that have reduced blood calcium at 1 DIM but return to normal levels quickly produce more milk and have fewer health events than those who had normal levels at 1 DIM or those who were chronically low through 2-4 DIM.