Calving is the most vulnerable time in a cow’s cycle. this is where performance is often won or lost.

When calcium levels drop in susceptible cows around calving, the effects are immediate and can quickly cascade through the cow (see graphic below). If she goes down, recovery is slow and the costs add up.

Low calcium in early lactation is linked to reduced rumen function & feed intake, increased risk of retained membranes and uterine disease and compromised reproductive performance and milk production.

Most oral calcium products only provide a short lift of serum calcium - typically lasting 8-12 hours, which is why their labels say you must repeat the dose. However the risk period extends well beyond that.

Cow Start Complete was developed to close that gap, delivering sustained calcium support across the full 48hr + risk window. And it does it with a single dose (1 dose = 2 boluses) given as soon as possible following calving.

The result is a reduced risk of milk fever and subclinical hypocalcaemia and therefore fewer downstream impacts. Cows are able to perform to their genetic potential rather than play catch-up against a cascading set of negative effects and you can get on with the other jobs around the farm.

DONE ONCE.
DONE RIGHT.

WHY IS COW START COMPLETE DIFFERENT TO OTHER CALCIUM BOLUSES?

  • Delivers ~ 20% greater calcium payload than other boluses sold in NZ.

  • Contains several sources of calcium including Calcareous Marine Algae (CMA) - a natural seaweed derived complex of calcium, magnesium and trace minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine & molybdenum.

  • Contains magnesium to enhance calcium absorption.

  • The only bolus in NZ with magnesium and an antioxidant immune support (Vit E and Selenium) system.

  • A sustained release transition bolus designed to tackle both parts of the hypocalcaemia problem.

nz trial: pihama farm, taranaki.

MILK PRODUCTION

Cow Start Complete treated cows produced an average 1.3L (0.11kg MS) per day more than the untreated control group over the 24-week study period.

REPRO PERFORMANCE

3-week submission rate: 92.6% vs 63.2% in controls.
1st service conception rate: 89.7% vs 63.1% in controls.
Average conception date: 9 days earlier for treated cows.
Empty rate: 3.5% vs 12.2% in controls

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Economic modelling of Pihama Farm suggests that a return on investment of 12:1 is possible ($423/cow treated). The reproductive benefit accounts for 65% of the return.

Firstly, this is a complicated subject. We recommend that you seek advice from your vet. We’ve spent time working through all of our data with them. They’re the professional that understands the nuances around this subject and how it all relates to your farm. They know your cows. They know you.

With that said, here we go: Cow Start Complete is the end point of an evolution of a calcium bolus development started by Anchor Life Science in 2017. In that time Anchor Life Science have conducted over 12 on farm trials and published 5 peer reviewed papers into veterinary journals. We at Portero, with help from Coastal Vets Ltd, have also conducted a trial in Taranaki in 2025.

The results across studies are very consistent and apply to animals as a group (individual animal responses may vary):

  • Class-leading prevention of milk fever and subclinical hypocalcaemia*

  • Treated cows typically get back to pre-calving rumination levels faster and ruminate more minutes per day than untreated control cows

  • Treated cows can show better energy status post-calving, less metabolic disease, fewer uterine infections & better body condition retention

  • Across 13 on farm studies treated cows have shown greater milk production than untreated cows (ranges from 1.8% - 7.5% difference)

  • In 3 recent studies Cow Start Complete treated cows showed better 3-week submission rates & better 1st service conception rates, achieving more cows pregnant by 100 days in milk.

Here’s the nuance: We’re not saying that giving Cow Start Complete to a healthy cow will suddenly mean she’ll make more milk. In our studies the best untreated cows make just as much milk, or match reproductive benchmarks, as the best Cow Start treated cows. No, what we see is that a subset of the treated cows - from the middle to the bottom - may do better than untreated cows in the same space. Think about it like this: a cow with great calcium status, no inflammatory processes, no health disorders and no metabolic issues will produce to her potential. Cow Start won’t raise her ceiling. However what it may do is raise the floor of the ones with calcium-mediated dysfunction. And in any given herd that may be quite a number of cows based upon NZ research. The Pihama Farm data suggests it too.

*in cases where dietary sources are low or insufficient to meet an animal’s normal requirement.