Study on the effectiveness of Calcitop

Calcium boluses come in many shapes and formulas. Calcitop contains not only calcium, but also phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D3. This formula ensures the optimal prevention of milk fever in cattle. A study published in 2021 studied the effect of Calcitop compared to two other calcium boluses.

1 Research goal and methods

The aim of the research was to study, in a comparative aspect, the effect of oral calcium boluses "Calcitop bolus"*, "Smartbolus Torpedo Calcium", and "Bovinno compli"  on the incidence of postpartum diseases and the dynamics of calcium-phosphorus metabolism in cows. The objects of research were cows of the 2nd and 3rd lactation of the Holstein-Frisian breed, divided into 4 homogenous groups with 15 cows per group. The experimental groups were given 2 boluses once immediately after calving. The control group received no boluses. 

Table 1: description of experimental groups and control group

During the observation period, in the first 14 days after calving, the general clinical condition of the animals was determined daily. At the end of the experiment, the number of sick cows, the form of severity of the disease, and the case of animals were determined. Also, on the first day immediately after calving, on the first day after calving after 6 hours, after 2 days and on day 14, blood was taken from all animals to determine the dynamics of calcium levels when using boluses.

2 Research results

2.1 Fewer postpartum abnormalities

The use of boluses "Calcitop", "Bovini Compli", "Smartbolus Torpedo Calcium" immediately after calving in cows prevents the incidence of milk fever and retention of the afterbirth by 100% compared with the control. The most effective feed additive in production conditions was Calcitop bolus, which also contributed to a 28.3% reduction in the incidence of mastitis (including subclinical), and 20.0% reduction in endometritis compared to the control. 

These results are in line with an earlier study performed in Hungary.

Table 2: incidence of postparum abnormalities in cows

2.2 No (subclinical) hypocalcemia

The results of the blood tests show that all boluses ensure safe calcium content in the blood. All calcium levels for the experimental groups were above 2,0 mmol/L, the treshold for subclinical hypocalcemia. The control group showed blood levels under 2,0 mmol/L, indicating subclinical hypocalcemia in these cows.

The use of boluses "Calcitop", "Smartbolus Torpedo Calcium" and "Bovino Compli" significantly increase the level of calcium in the blood by 71.6%, 70.4%, 51.0%, respectively, compared with the control (p < 0.05).

Even after 14 days, Calcitop showed the highest calcium content in the blood (2,65 mmol/L). The researchers hypothesize that Calcitop "not only increased blood calcium on the first day after calving, but also promoted the functional activity of the parathyroid gland, which regulates phosphorus-calcium metabolism."

Table 3: Dynamics of calcium content when using boluses, mmol/L.

3 Conclusion

The results of the study clearly showed the need for oral calcium boluses to be administered to cows immediately after calving. The studied calcium boluses proved to be effective in production conditions, however, the Calcitop bolus contributed to a significant reduction in the incidence all postpartum problems, as well as a more effective correction of the calcium-phosphorus metabolism of cows for 14 days after calving.