Norbrook launches new cattle bolus to combat milk fever

Norbrook Laboratories has introduced a new long-acting cattle bolus to combat milk fever, a common metabolic disorder affecting dairy cows.

Calcitrace D3 is the first and only long-acting bolus offering slow and fast-releasing calcium to sustain levels for 48 to 72 hours, as well as magnesium, phosphate and vitamin D3.

Its smooth gelatin coating and rounded tip, as well as its small size, allow for easier administration and reduce trauma caused to the orpharynx.

Milk fever generally affects older high-producing cows and is caused by a rapid decrease in calcium concentrations in the blood just before calving, leading to costs of more than 200 pounds per incident.

Dr Barry McInerney, Norbrook's veterinary advisor for the UK, said: "It is estimated that three to ten percent of cows are affected by milk fever … so it is crucial that farmers and vets reduce the risk as effectively as possible."

This comes after the company last week launched Mycinor, a new clindamycin antibiotic for the treatment of soft tissue infections.