You are very welcome. Thank you!

Thank you. We appreciate you watching and for taking the time to leave a kind comment!

They are probably feeding tums because they are assuming since tums have calcium, it’s a good thing. The main ingredients in Tums are calcium carbonate, sugar, and corn starch. This practice is more than likely based on anecdotal evidence such as, “I fed this and didn’t have problems, therefore it works”. Assuming an animal is getting basic proper nutrition and a good free choice mineral, this is not necessary. Not to mention most sheep and goats will develop hypocalcemia prior to delivery unlike a cow that will usually develop it after. I would assume they are giving the tums to “prevent” hypocalcemia in their mind. If they are waiting until delivery to give calcium, they already missed the boat. Hypocalcemia, often referred to as milk fever in the context of dairy animals, is a metabolic disorder characterized by low levels of calcium in the blood. The timing of when hypocalcemia tends to occur in different species, such as sheep, goats, and cows, is related to the physiological demands and dietary practices associated with each species. In cows, hypocalcemia commonly occurs post-delivery, primarily due to the sudden onset of lactation. The production of milk requires a significant amount of calcium, which is rapidly drawn from the blood into the milk. If the cow’s diet does not provide enough calcium or if her body cannot mobilize calcium from the bones quickly enough to meet the demands of milk production, her blood calcium levels will drop, leading to hypocalcemia. The high calcium demand for milk production, combined with the physiological stress of parturition, can make it challenging for cows to maintain adequate blood calcium levels immediately after calving. In contrast, sheep and goats are less prone to hypocalcemia immediately post-delivery but may experience it in the late stages of pregnancy, a condition often referred to as pregnancy toxemia or twin lamb disease in sheep. This difference can be attributed to several factors. First, sheep and goats, especially those carrying multiple fetuses, have a high nutritional demand during the late stages of pregnancy to support fetal growth. If their diet does not provide sufficient energy, their bodies may fail to absorb or mobilize enough calcium, leading to hypocalcemia. Secondly, the physical space occupied by the growing fetuses can limit the intake of adequate nutrients, including calcium. Third, these species may not experience as sudden and significant an increase in calcium demand for milk production immediately after birth as cows do, since the onset of lactation is more gradual. These physiological and dietary factors contribute to the timing of when hypocalcemia tends to occur in these different species. Management practices that ensure adequate dietary calcium and energy intake throughout pregnancy and the early lactation period are crucial for preventing hypocalcemia.

@@LinessaFarms thank you for the explanation. I’ve studied this phenomenon to try to understand it and I’ve not seen an answer as clear as you’ve given. Again, thanks!