Giving Birth Takes a Lot Out of a Cow – Including Calcium

Giving birth is no simple task. This is true for nearly all species, including cattle. Bringing new life into this world can truly be a miracle, but behind all the awe and beauty is a mother who struggled for hours, giving her all and sacrificing her own body to give life to her offspring (and to add milk to your tank).

While it is important to properly care for a newborn calf, it is also important to ensure the mother receives the care she needs. After all, she did just give birth so you could collect her milk. And giving birth takes a lot out of a cow – including calcium.

Proper calcium levels in a cow are crucial, especially post-calving. Without proper blood calcium levels, cows could experience hypocalcemia (aka milk fever). Hypocalcemia can lead to increased injury, decreased feed intake, increased risk of ketosis, increased risk of displaced abomasum and lower milk production. Therefore, preventative measures should be taken to reduce the possibility of hypocalcemia.

What can you do to maintain blood calcium levels? Typically, you administer some type of calcium bolus or supplement. The standard bolus routine is fighting a cow to swallow two (or more) giant boluses. (If only there was a bolus with a smooth shape and sleek coating to help ease the swallowing process. Amiright?) And even worse – not only do you need to try to catch the cow once, but you usually need to try to catch that same cow again 12 hours later to give it the second bolus. (Talk about inconvenient. Like you don’t already have enough on your plate.) Calcium supplementation can be a headache, that’s for sure. Luckily, GENEX continually looks for ways to make producers’ lives easier. That’s why we set out to create a calcium supplement unlike any other on the market.

Noting producers’ concerns regarding administration, shape and size, GENEX created a calcium supplement that not only provides plenty of calcium but also includes vitamin D and magnesium to help transfer the calcium into the blood stream. This product, RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement, was suggested by members and made for members. What makes this calcium supplementation different from the others?

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›    ›RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement comes in one package (containing two boluses) that provides enough calcium so you don’t have to catch the cow a second time. Both boluses in the package can be given right away as opposed to giving the second bolus 12 hours later.

·       ›Each package contains 100 grams of calcium, a mixture between fast-releasing calcium chloride and a slower releasing Calmin. (Calmin is a seaweed-derived highly available source of calcium and magnesium that is absorbable over time.) The calcium chloride ensures the cow receives calcium quickly, while the Calmin slowly releases calcium (thus eliminating the need to give a second bolus 12 hours later).

·       ›RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement is missile shaped and coated which makes it easy for a Jersey or Holstein cow to swallow. (This calcium supplement is cow tested, Jersey approved.)

RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement not only provides rapid calcium absorption and supplements blood calcium; it also provides peace of mind for you.

Curious about the RumiLife® CAL24™ nutritional supplement? Need some in your life NOW? Contact your GENEX representative for more information.