Feeding S olanum glaucophyllum to preparturient multiparous cows prevents postparturient hypocalcemia

S olanum glaucophyllum ( SG ) contains 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25‐( OH ) 2 D 3 ) glycosides. We investigated the effect of SG on hypocalcemia in cows. Serum levels of 1,25‐( OH ) 2 D 3 , total calcium and phosphorus dose‐relatedly increased after feeding with SG , while serum magnesium and chloride levels fell ( P  < 0.05). We also performed an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ( EDTA ) infusion to induce artificial hypocalcemia. Cows that had been fed 4.0 mg/kg body weight of SG daily for 2 weeks had a higher serum concentration of total calcium at the end of EDTA infusion than those not fed SG ( P  < 0.05). In a field trial, multiparous cows were assigned to one of four groups: (1) no SG , (2) 1.3 g or (3) 2.6 g of SG daily from 14 days before the estimated calving day until 3 days after calving, or (4) a single feed of 35.75 g SG at 3 days before the estimated calving day. The concentrations of serum total calcium after the calving in each treatment group were (1) 7.4, (2) 7.9, (3) 8.0 and (4) 8.9 mg/dL and higher for (4) than for (1) ( P  < 0.05). The data suggests that feeding a high dose of SG before the calving may maintain higher concentrations of serum calcium after the calving.