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What Is Milk Fever in Cows? (How to Spot It & What to Do)
What is Milk Fever?
Milk fever is a metabolic disorder that usually affects dairy cows in the first few days after calving. It’s caused by a sudden drop in blood calcium levels as the cow starts producing milk, and is most common in high-yielding or older cows.
What Are the Signs of Milk Fever?
- Weakness and unsteadiness when standing
- Loss of appetite
- Cold ears and dry nose
- Muscle tremors or shaking
- Lying down and being unable to get up
- In severe cases, collapse and inability to rise
Why Does Milk Fever Happen?
Producing milk requires a lot of calcium. If the cow’s body can’t mobilise enough calcium from her bones or diet, blood calcium drops quickly. This can happen if:
- The diet before calving was too rich in calcium
- There’s a lack of mineral balance
- The cow is older or has had multiple calves
How Can You Prevent Milk Fever?
- Feed a balanced diet before and after calving—see our cattle feed and supplements
- Avoid over-supplementing calcium pre-calving
- Ensure cows have access to magnesium and other key minerals
- Monitor high-risk cows closely in the days after calving
What Should You Do If You Suspect Milk Fever?
- Act fast—milk fever is an emergency
- Call your vet immediately for calcium treatment
- Keep the cow warm and comfortable on clean animal bedding
- Prevent her from injuring herself while down
FAQs
Is milk fever only a risk after calving?
It’s most common in the first few days post-calving, but can occasionally occur later.
It’s most common in the first few days post-calving, but can occasionally occur later.
Can you treat milk fever yourself?
Always call a vet—prompt calcium therapy is essential and can be life-saving.
Always call a vet—prompt calcium therapy is essential and can be life-saving.
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