IMPROVES CALCIUM STATUS
Cow Start Complete is unlike other calcium boluses. Standard boluses are designed to dissolve very rapidly and then rely on the way their various calcium salts get metabolized by the cow to determine how long their calcium delivery lasts. Standard boluses typically have a “give another bolus at 12 hours” type of statement on their labels because trials¹²³ have shown this is about as long as their calcium supply lasts. Cow Start Complete is different. The matrix of the bolus dissolves in 2 phases and it delivers a much higher payload of calcium than the standard boluses. It is the combination of correct calcium specification, bolus dissolve rate AND the way the calcium sources in the bolus are absorbed that mean Cow Start Complete delivers calcium to the cow for 48 hours. And this is why the Cow Start Complete label says you only need to give the cow a single dose (1 dose = 2 boluses) as soon as possible after calving.
In their most recent (published Nov 2024) trial⁴ Anchor Life Sciences & Veterinarians from University College, Dublin, tested Cow Start Complete on a subset of 26 cows from a 280-cow, pasture-fed, Irish herd with a previous seasonal production of ~6,600kg (21L/cow/day). This study proved that one administration of the Cow Start Bolus simply keeps on supplying calcium to the cow long after a short acting bolus would have given up.
Studies show that inadequate calcium status during those critical first days after calving is linked to disease risk, immune function, energy status, rumination and milk production⁵⁶. Just 2 or so days of low calcium can affect the cow’s entire season. Subclinical hypocalcaemia (i.e. low calcium) is generally accepted to cause a 7% production loss, and clinical milk fever 14% ⁷. A recent NZ study⁸ estimated that between 60-80% of multiparous cows had low calcium immediately after calving and that around 30% still had low calcium levels at day 3. It is particularly these persistent sub clinical hypocalcaemic cows that have the most issues and it highlights the importance of delivering adequate calcium right through those critical days until the cow’s homeostatic mechanisms catch up and get her functioning normally again.
References:
Wilms, J. et al. Journal of Dairy Research 2022, Vol. 89, (1), pp 29-36
Verhoef, W. et al. Veterinary Medicine: Research & Reports 2021, 12, pp 23-32
Martinez, N. et al. J. Dairy Sci. 2016, Vol. 99, (10) pp 8397 - 8416
Lawlor, J. et al. Animal & Veterinary Sciences 2024 Vol. 12, (6), pp 154-160.
Fahey, A., Lawlor. J., Cow Start Research Meta-analysis, 2022
Goff, J P. et al J. Dairy Sci. 2020, Vol. 103: 2591 - 2601
Dairy NZ/Milk-Fever
Roberts, K I., et al. New Zealand Vet Journal 2018