While the exact cause of this disease is not completely understood, it is associated with the onset of lactation and failure of the animal to maintain an adequate supply of calcium from both feed intake and mobilization from the bone. Several factors are known to affect the incidence of milk fever in dairy cattle. Older animals are more susceptible than are young cows.
Milk fever occurs more frequently in Jerseys than in the other dairy breeds.
High producing animals are more prone to milk fever than are low producers. Cows with a previous history tend to have repeat cases of milk fever. Dull eyes and actions 2. Subnormal body temperature 3. Cold and drooping ears 4.