Milk fever

Milk fever, postparturient hypocalcemia, or parturient paresis is a disease, primarily in dairy cattle, but also seen in beef cattle, characterized by reduced blood calcium levels (see: Hypocalcemia). It occurs following parturition, at onset of lactation, when demand for calcium for colostrum production exceeds the body’s ability to mobilize calcium. “Fever” is a misnomer, as body temperature during the disease is generally not elevated. Milk fever is more commonly seen in older animals (which have reduced ability to mobilize calcium from bone) and in certain breeds (such as Channel Island breeds).