SODIUM SLUMINOSILICATE

An alternate application of the calcium deficiency approach to milk fever prevention is to bind calcium with synthetic zeolite A (sodium aluminosilicate).

Feeding a daily dose of about 0.5–1.0 kg zeolite A creates a functional calcium deficiency and substantially reduces the risk for milk fever. However, this approach also may decrease prepartum dry matter intake, decrease blood phosphorus and magnesium concentrations at calving, and increase tissue aluminum concentrations

The magnitude of these side effects may be dose dependent, and their biological significance is unclear. The postcalving performance of cows fed zeolite A has generally been lower than what would be expected for cows experiencing a reduction in hypocalcemia around calving.