Feeding Zeolite A for Milk Fever Prevention in Dairy Cattle

What is zeolite A and How Does it Work?

When dietary phosphorus is bound, blood phosphorus levels decrease.  In response, the cow’s body will increase bone mobilization (breaking down bone cells).  Approximately 80% of phosphorus and 98% of calcium in the cow’s body is stored together in bones and teeth in the form of calcium phosphate molecules (1).  When bone mobilization occurs, these mineral stores are released, increasing both phosphorus and calcium levels in blood (2).  Research has shown that when cow’s phosphorus intake is limited, blood phosphorus levels decrease, bone mobilization increases, and blood calcium levels rise (3).  This relationship between blood phosphorus and calcium is the basis for zeolite A’s potential to ensure adequate blood calcium levels for dairy cows during the transition period.

Zeolite A’s Effectiveness in Preventing Milk Fever

As a relatively new milk fever prevention strategy, research on zeolite A is still emerging but has shown promising results.  Studies indicate feeding zeolite A to dairy cows during the dry period, 30 days or less to calving, successfully decreases blood phosphorus levels before calving and increases blood calcium levels before and after calving (4, 5, 6, 7).  Multiple studies have also reported a reduced prevalence of both subclinical and clinical hypocalcemia (6, 7, 8, 9).  Research has shown blood phosphorus levels remained low after calving but returned to normal levels within 2 days (5, 6).  Cows fed zeolite A has shown decreased dry matter intake and rumination prior to calving, but no negative effect on intake has been reported post-calving (6, 7, 10).  Furthermore, milk yield data suggests that zeolite A supplementation does not negatively affect milk production (6, 7, 10).  Very limited research data exists regarding zeolite A’s potential effects on reproduction.

On-Farm Considerations for Feeding zeolite A

When considering zeolite A supplementation as a milk fever prevention strategy, several important management factors should be considered: 

• Short-Term Feeding: Research indicates that feeding zeolite A for 14- 28 before calving is an effective timeframe to improve cow’s calcium status (6). Extended feeding can cause severe hypophosphatemia (phosphorus deficiency), which negatively affects dairy cattle health and performance.  Therefore, cows should only be fed zeolite A for a limited period and not the entirety of the dry period, making it potentially unsuitable for one-group dry cow programs. 
• Monitor Dietary Phosphorus Levels: Understanding the phosphorus content in the diet is crucial for determining proper zeolite A dosage.  Ingredients in dry cow diets should be regularly analyzed, particularly when changing ingredients or feeding by-products that may vary between deliveries.  Additionally, a reliable estimate of dry matter intake is essential to accurately assess cow’s phosphorus intake. 
• Proper Mixing: Uniform mixing is essential to ensure dry cows receive their intended diet, particularly for micro-ingredients like zeolite A.  Regularly evaluate mixer and feed consistency to maintain accuracy. 
• Magnesium Consideration: Zeolite A does bind magnesium, leading to reduced blood magnesium levels in some trials, although levels generally remain within the recommended ranges (5, 11).  To prevent deficiencies, diets should be properly fortified with magnesium. 
• Product Selection: Farmers and nutritionists should carefully evaluate any product to ensure it is specifically intended for milk fever prevention.  zeolite A is the particular type of zeolite that has been research for this purpose, distinguishing it from other zeolites. 
• Value: As with any dietary supplement, farmers and nutritionists should assess the costs, benefits, and potential drawbacks of using zeolite A to determine if it is a worthwhile addition to the diet. 

Summary

Feeding zeolite A is a relatively new option for milk fever prevention, but is not the only dietary approach available. Negative DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) diets have been a long-standing strategy for preventing milk fever in dairy cattle. These diets can be effective, and to determine if they are a good fit for your farm, you can refer to this article 🔗.

Milk fever is a significant health issue in dairy cattle, impacting animal health, productivity, and economic return. As the dairy industry continues to evaluate prevention strategies, feeding supplemental zeolite A presents a new approach that may offer another management option for farms.

References

1. NASEM. (2021). Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle: eighth revised edition. Washington, DC: The National Academics Press.  https://doi.org/10.17226/25806 
2. Cohrs, I., Wilkens, M.R., & Grunberg, W. (2018). Short communication: Effect of dietary phosphorus deprivation in late gestation and early lactation on the calcium homeostasis of periparturient dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 101:9591-9598. doi:10.3168/jds.2015-14642
3. Wachter, S., Cohrs, I., Golbeck, L., Scheu, T., Eder, K., & Grunberg, W. (2022). Effects of restricted dietary phosphorus supply during the dry period on productivity and metabolism in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 105:4370-4392. doi:10.3168/jds.2021-21246 
4. Crookenden, M.A., Phyn, C.V.C, Turner, S.A., Loor, J.J., Smith, A.I., Lopreiato, V., Burke, C.R., Heiser, A., &Roche, J.R. (2019). Feeding synthetic zeolite to transition dairy cows alters neutrophil gene expression. Journal of Dairy Science, 103:723-736. doi:10.3168/jds.2019-17097 
5. Frizzarini, W.S., Monteiro, P.L.J, Campolina, J.P., Vang, A.L., Soudah, O., Lewandowski, L.R., Connelly, M.K., Arriola Apelo, S.I., & Hernandez, L.L. (2024). Mechanisms by which feeding synthetic zeolite A and dietary cation-anion difference diets affect feed intake, energy metabolism, and milk performance: Part I. Journal of Dairy Science, 107:5204-5221. doi:10.3168/jds.2024-24056 
6. Kerwin, A.L., Ryan, C.M., Leno, B.M., Jakobsen, M., Theilgaard, P., Barbano, D.M., & Overton, T.R. (2019). Effects of feeding synthetic zeolite A during the prepartum perion on serum mineral concentration, oxidant status, and performance of multiparous Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 102:5191-5207. doi:10.3168/jds.2019-16272 
7. Masoumi Pour, M.M., Foroudi, F., Karimi, N., Abedini, M.R., & Karimi, K. (2022). Effect of anionic and zeolite supplements and oral calcium bolus in prepartum diets on feed intake, milk yield and milk compositions, plasma ca concentration, blood metabolites and the prevalence of some reproductive disorders in fresh dairy cows. Animals, 12:3059. doi:10.3390/ani12213059 
8. Grabherr, H., Spolders, M., Furll, M., & Flachowsky, G. (2009). Effect of several doses of zeolite A on feed intake, energy metabolism and on mineral metabolism in dairy cows around calving. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 93:221-236. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0396.2008.00808.x 
9. Thilsing-Hansen, T., & Jorgensen, R.J. (2001). Hot topic: prevention of parturient paresis and subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows by zeolite a administration in the dry period. Journal of Dairy Science, 84:691-693. doi:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(01)74523-7 
10. Frizzarini, W.S., Campolina, J.P., Vang, A.L., Lewandowski, L.R., Teixeira, N.N., Connelly, M.K., Monteiro, P.L.J, & Hernandez, L.L. (2024). Mechanisms by which feeding synthetic zeolite A and dietary cation-anion difference diets affect feed intake, energy metabolism, and milk performance: Part II. Journal of Dairy Science, 107:5222-5234. doi:10.3168/jds.2024-24057 
11. Thilsing, T., Jorgensen, R.J., & Poulsen, H.D. (2006). In vitro binding capacity of zeolite a to calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in rumen fluid as influenced by changes in pH. Journal of Vetrinary Medicine, 53:57-64. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0442.2006.00798.x 

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