After calving, a cow needs about three times more calcium than before calving.

After calving, a cow needs about three times more calcium than before calving. This increase in calcium requirement is in part due to colostrum production, which requires about 50 grams of calcium or 10 times the amount of calcium circulating in the cow’s bloodstream.

Recent research from dairy universities (such as Cornell University) suggests we’re still unsure of the “best” protocols for supplementing fresh dairy cows with calcium.