Use of 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 in prevention of bovine parturient paresis. 8. Maternal and neonatal plasma calcium, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D metabolites concentrations.

Thirteen Israeli Friesian cows (3.71 average calvings) in the second or later lactation, fed a daily diet containing 90 g of Ca and 50 g of P, were injected once intramuscularly with 700 micrograms 1 alpha-hydroxy-vitamin D3 in order to investigate its placental transfer and its subsequent metabolism in the neonate. The injection of the vitamin 96 to 24 h before calving slightly increased plasma Ca at parturition, whereas uninjected controls displayed a prominent hypo-calcemia. On the 10th and 20th d after calving, difference in the plasma Ca concentration of the two groups was not significant. At parturition, plasma parathyroid hormone concentration was significantly higher and plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D lower in the control than in the treated cows. At parturition the plasma concentrations of Ca, parathyroid hormone, hydroxyproline, and 24,25-hydroxyvitamin D were higher in the calves than in their dams. Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were markedly higher and 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D was slightly higher in cows than in their offsprings.