Metabolic Issues / Down Cows

Q: Why do cows go down around calving?

Mostly due to metabolic shifts. Blood calcium and magnesium fall and energy demand rises at calving. If intake or mineral mobilisation cannot meet demand, cows weaken and go down.

Q: What should I check first if a cow goes down?

Isolate the cow for safety, check posture such as sternal versus lateral, measure temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate, note appetite and milk drop, look for recent ration or mineral changes, and call the vet if the cow is lateral or not responsive.

Q: How quickly do cows recover after treatment?

Many cows stand within hours after correct calcium, magnesium or energy treatment, but some need longer and supportive care to avoid muscle damage. Quick treatment gives down cows the best chance of success.

At a glance

Metabolic disorders in dairy cows (milk fever, ketosis and hypocalcaemia) commonly appear after calving due to nutrient and mineral imbalances. Common signs are weakness, muscle tremors or down cows that can’t stand. Timely treatment is important to get the cow back up and standing. The longer it takes for the cow to receive treatment, the greater the risk of permanent damage, secondary infections and death.

Symptoms

Muscle tremors, wobbliness or inability to stand
Loss of appetite
Sudden drop in milk production
Lying sternal or lateral and refusing to get up
Weakness, low head carriage, cold extremities (milk fever)
Crawler cows — paddling legs, trying to move but failing
Nervous signs, odd behaviour, or sweet-smelling breath (ketosis

What you might notice on-farm

You often won’t spot metabolic problems until calving and early lactation, when demand spikes and mineral gaps are revealed. Common on-farm signs include:

More cows are unable to rise or need assistance after calving
Cows are slow to start eating, have low rumen fill or have dull appetites
Sudden drop in milk yield or cows not milking out as expected
More cases of muscle tremors, wobbliness, or crawler cows
Increased retained placenta, mastitis or slow uterine clearance patterns
Clusters by mob — often heifers or light cows are affected more
More injuries from dragging or collapse, and a higher risk of secondary infections

If you’re seeing multiple of these, treat it as a system issue (ration, mineral delivery, or access).

What good looks like

Targets and signs of a well-managed transition:

Few or no down cows post-calving (zero down cows is a realistic goal)
Stable appetite and rumen fill within 24–48 hours of calving
Quick recovery to normal milk yield and activity after treatment
Mineral delivery method that reaches all cows daily (including shy feeders)
Clear mob management so heifers/light cows are not underfed

Follow these quick checklists

What to do today

Isolate any cow that is down or weak for safe handling.
Check posture: Sternal vs lateral, lateral needs urgent attention.
Measure temp, heart and respiratory rate and note milk drop and appetite.
Check recent ration changes and mineral delivery points.
Call the vet if the cow is lateral, not responding to basic support, or if you’re unsure.

What to do this week

Review any cluster of cases by mob, date of calving and feed changes.
Check mineral supply, where it’s mixed in the ration and who might miss out.
Prioritise lifting/assistance equipment inspection and staff training.
Monitor at-risk groups (heifers, light cows) more frequently for appetite and rumen fill.

Before calving

Check pre-calving BCS and split mobs- light, target and heavy cows.
Confirm mineral and DCAD plans are matched to your system and delivery method.
Ensure cows have consistent, adequate fibre in the close-up diet and steady access to feed and water.
Plan which cows get priority assistance and how to transport a down cow safely.

Issues, likely causes and where to start

If cows are going down with classic milk fever signs (soft, cold, lateral recumbency)

Likely causes:

Low blood calcium around calving (typical milk fever)
Poor dietary cation–anion balance (DCAD) or low pre-calving calcium mobilisation

Start with:

Call the vet for calcium treatment and follow their protocol.
Review pre-calving DCAD and blood/urine tests if available.
Check mineral delivery and whether heifers/light cows were under-supported.

If cows show weakness, reduced appetite, and slow recovery with little milk drop (subclinical ketosis/ clinical ketosis)

Likely causes:

Negative energy balance at calving, insufficient intake or high-energy drain (twins, high yield)
Sudden diet shifts lowering intake (crop transitions, low fibre)

Start with:

Check feed intake, rumen fill and any sudden ration changes.
Work with your vet/nutritionist on energy support (propylene glycol, IV fluids) and transition feeding.
Monitor BHB if available and flag high-risk cows early.

If cows are shaky, twitching, or show nervous signs (hypomagnesaemia links)

Likely causes:

Low magnesium around calving or interactions with high potassium forages reducing Mg uptake.

Start with:

Consider magnesium supplementation routes that reach all cows (in-feed, in-shed, bolus).
Check pasture/crop potassium levels and feeding timing. Consult vet for acute cases.

If multiple cows are down or there’s a pattern across the mob

Likely causes:

System issue: Mineral delivery gaps, ration mistakes, sudden feed change or access problems

Start with:

Treat affected cows, then trace back feed records, mineral mixing points, and which cows might be missing the product.
Split mobs to reduce variation and protect shy feeders.

Crawler cows: bright in the eye but agitated and crawling to get up

Likely causes:

Phosphorus deficiency can lead to similar down cow scenarios

Start with:

Identifying this type quickly is essential for effective intervention. By addressing the phosphorus deficiency and providing appropriate supplements, we can support these cows back to health and mitigate any lasting effects.

When to call the vet

Call your vet promptly if:

A cow is lateral (lying on her side) or not improving after initial support.
Multiple cows are down in the same period or mob.
You see sudden unexplained deaths, severe depression, or abnormal nervous signs.
You’re unsure of the diagnosis, remember early vet involvement prevents complications.
For milk fever, vet-administered calcium is usually required. For suspected ketosis or infections, follow vet guidance for diagnostics and treatment.

How minerals fit in

Minerals are central to preventing many down-cow scenarios but must be delivered so every cow actually eats them.

Key points:

Calcium and magnesium are directly linked to milk fever and hypomagnesaemia; ensure reliable pre-calving and immediate post-calving strategies.
Sodium, potassium and DCAD management affect calcium mobilisation, check forage potassium and DCAD balance.
Trace minerals (e.g., selenium, copper) support immune function and reduce long-term risk, but won’t fix an acute down cow.

How to make minerals work on-farm

Match your delivery method to your system, whether that be in-feed, water soluble, in-shed, or free choice, based on what will be taken consistently.
Protect any shy feeders by putting minerals into the feed component most reliably eaten, at the time cows are most hungry.
Go beyond “in theory”. The numbers on paper don’t matter if the cows are sorting, missing it, or not getting access to the mineral being fed.
Use custom blends to balance the full ration when feeds are “out of the ordinary”. Fodder beet and brassicas can be high-energy and low-protein, and mineral gaps shift through wintering systems.

FAQs

Why do cows go down around calving?

A: Mostly due to metabolic shifts, blood calcium and magnesium fall and energy demand rises at calving. If intake or mineral mobilisation can’t meet demand, cows weaken and go down.

What should I check first if a cow goes down?

A: Isolate for safety, check posture (sternal vs lateral), measure temp/HR/RR, note appetite and milk drop, look for recent ration or mineral changes, and call the vet if lateral or not responsive.

What minerals are linked to down cows?

A: Calcium and magnesium are the main minerals tied to down cows. Potassium and DCAD in pre-calving feed affect calcium mobilisation, trace minerals help long-term resilience.

How quickly do cows recover after treatment?

A: Many cows stand within hours after correct calcium/magnesium/energy treatment but some need longer and supportive care to avoid muscle damage. Quick treatment ensures the best chance of success for down cows.

When should I call the vet for a down cow?

Call immediately for lateral cows, multiple cases, severe signs or uncertainty. Early vet treatment reduces permanent injury and death.