PARNUT Entry 60: Reduction of the risk of milk fever and subclinical hypocalcaemia
Particular nutritional purpose: Reduction of the risk of milk fever and subclinical hypocalcaemia
Species or category of animal: Dairy cows
Dairy cows
- Essential nutritional characteristics: Low cations/anions ratio For the total ration: — Minimum acidification via feed for particular nutritional purpose: 100 mEq/kg dry matter — Objective: Range from negative DCAD (17) values to < 100 (mEq/kg dry matter) DCAD values Or Zeolite (sodium aluminium silicate): 250 – 500 g / day Or Supply of rumen protected feed materials rich in phytic acid (> 6 %) and having a calcium content < 0,2 %, to achieve a minimum of 28 g and a maximum of 32 g available calcium per cow per day. Or High level of calcium in the form of highly available sources of calcium: calcium chloride and/or calcium sulfate and/or dicalcium phosphate and/or calcium carbonate and/or calcium propionate and/or calcium formate. and/or ‘any other calcium source having a similar effect’ Calcium provided by one or a combination of these sources with a minimum of 50 g per cow per day Or Supply of calcium in the form of calcium pidolate in a minimum of Or Waxy-leaf nightshade meal allowing a daily release of 38-46 μg 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol-glycoside per day
- Recommended length of time: From 3 weeks before calving until calving | From 4 weeks before calving until calving | From first signs of parturition to two days subsequent to parturition | From two days before calving or first signs of parturition to 10 days subsequent to parturition
- Labelling declarations: — Calcium — Phosphorus — Magnesium — Sodium — Potassium — Chlorides — Sulphur — Sodium aluminium silicate — Calcium sources — Calcium pidolate — Waxy-leaf nightshade meal — Content of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol-glycoside — Crude fibre — Crude fat — Starch — Vitamin D3 (total) as cholecalciferol
- Other provisions: Indicate in the instructions for proper use: ‘Stop feeding after calving’ / For zeolite: the amount of feed shall be restricted to ensure that a daily intake of 500 g sodium aluminium-silicate per animal is not exceeded; the duration of use shall be restricted to a maximum of 2 weeks. / Application in the form of bolus is allowed. A bolus may contain up to 20 % iron in an inert, non-bioavailable form, in order to increase its density. Indicate in the instructions for proper use the number of applications and the time before and after calving. Indicate on the labelling: ‘It is recommended that a nutritional expert’s opinion be sought before use’.
Dairy cows
- Essential nutritional characteristics: Glycosylated 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol from Solanum glaucophyllum extract allowing a daily release of 15-80 μg of glycosylated 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol per day.
- Recommended length of time: One oral administration of the bolus containing glycosylated 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol from Solanum glaucophyllum extract during the pre-parturient period (from 9 days before calving to immediately before calving)
- Labelling declarations: — Glycosylated 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol from Solanum glaucophyllum extract — Vitamin D3 (total) as Cholecalciferol
- Other provisions: 1. Glycosylated 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol from Solanum glaucophyllum extract shall be orally administered once in the form of a bolus with daily administration of: — a minimum of calcium of 60 g per cow during one week before calving and 84 g per cow until the end of the third week of lactation; — a minimum of magnesium of 18 g per cow during one week before calving and 26 g per cow until the end of the third week of lactation. 2. Indicate on the labelling of the feed: ‘The application of the bolus shall be done only once during the pre-parturient period from 9 days before calving to immediately before calving. Calcium and magnesium shall be administered daily at the following levels: — a minimum of calcium of 60 g per cow during one week before calving and 84 g per cow until the end of the third week of lactation — a minimum of magnesium of 18 g per cow during one week before calving and 26 g per cow until the end of the third week of lactation’ — It is recommended that advice from a veterinarian or a nutritionist be sought before use.
Source: Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/354, Annex, Part B, entry 60 — EUR-Lex consolidated version 2025-04-22 (CELEX:02020R0354).