New product for milk fever prevention (X-Zelit)
Mar 4, 2018 14:26:57 GMT -5
Shawn, serendipity, and 3 more like this
Post by Kelsey on Mar 4, 2018 14:26:57 GMT -5
Has anyone tried this yet?
I know terizjean did last year and was happy with the results. Previous thread.
I'll be using it for my two cows due this month and will report back.
X-Zelit is sodium aluminosilicate, a chemical that binds with dietary calcium. It needs to be fed starting two weeks before a cow's due date (really needs a minimum of one week, so this allows for a cow to calve up tp 7-8 days early). In response to the low level of dietary calcium, the cow's system will allow calcium to be mobilized from her bones. At calving, her body is already primed to regulate blood calcium levels, rather then experiencing a sudden decrease in calcium, resulting in subclinical or clinical milk fever. Most dairy cows experience sub optimal calcium levels at calving time - while they may not develop classic signs of milk fever, they are still at an increased risk for ketosis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, etc, following calving. I read that the cows have great appetites immediately after calving and their calves have more vigor!
Studies show an 85% decrease in milk fever cases when X-Zelit is implemented on large farms - but the 15% cases are actually the cows that tend to get pushed out at the feed bunker and likely did not consume their daily dose. That number is closer to 100% when cows are fed their portion individually.
(CON - control, regular prefresh diet; EXP - experimental, fed X-Zelit leading up to calving)
Unfortunately the product is expensive - $84 for a 20 kg bag, which is more than enough for two cows, not quite enough for three. Once you start feeding it, you have to continue until they calve (even if they are late), so you will want extra on hand. And you need to know your cow's due date...
Shipping from Canada adds another $75-100. There is a warehouse in California that sometimes stores X-Zelit, so shipping may be cheaper if you order at the right time.
Though it is expensive, you don't need to administer any other product, so no Bovikalc, pastes, etc, which is certainly a savings. And if they calve easily and have zero problems at freshening, it will be sooo worth it.
It's a white tasteless powder or granule (my bag should get here today) and they need to eat 500g per day. Not sure how that's going to go, but I'm planning on mixing up molasses water to combine with some grain. I'll even resort to applesauce if I have to
Sounds like great stuff from what I've read. You can read more here. To order, go through the website to the US distributor (Protekta) and call or email. No Rx required.
I know terizjean did last year and was happy with the results. Previous thread.
I'll be using it for my two cows due this month and will report back.
X-Zelit is sodium aluminosilicate, a chemical that binds with dietary calcium. It needs to be fed starting two weeks before a cow's due date (really needs a minimum of one week, so this allows for a cow to calve up tp 7-8 days early). In response to the low level of dietary calcium, the cow's system will allow calcium to be mobilized from her bones. At calving, her body is already primed to regulate blood calcium levels, rather then experiencing a sudden decrease in calcium, resulting in subclinical or clinical milk fever. Most dairy cows experience sub optimal calcium levels at calving time - while they may not develop classic signs of milk fever, they are still at an increased risk for ketosis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, etc, following calving. I read that the cows have great appetites immediately after calving and their calves have more vigor!
Studies show an 85% decrease in milk fever cases when X-Zelit is implemented on large farms - but the 15% cases are actually the cows that tend to get pushed out at the feed bunker and likely did not consume their daily dose. That number is closer to 100% when cows are fed their portion individually.
(CON - control, regular prefresh diet; EXP - experimental, fed X-Zelit leading up to calving)
Unfortunately the product is expensive - $84 for a 20 kg bag, which is more than enough for two cows, not quite enough for three. Once you start feeding it, you have to continue until they calve (even if they are late), so you will want extra on hand. And you need to know your cow's due date...
Shipping from Canada adds another $75-100. There is a warehouse in California that sometimes stores X-Zelit, so shipping may be cheaper if you order at the right time.
Though it is expensive, you don't need to administer any other product, so no Bovikalc, pastes, etc, which is certainly a savings. And if they calve easily and have zero problems at freshening, it will be sooo worth it.
It's a white tasteless powder or granule (my bag should get here today) and they need to eat 500g per day. Not sure how that's going to go, but I'm planning on mixing up molasses water to combine with some grain. I'll even resort to applesauce if I have to
Sounds like great stuff from what I've read. You can read more here. To order, go through the website to the US distributor (Protekta) and call or email. No Rx required.