A calcium deficiency, hypocalcemia, is a serious condition that can affect dairy animals often around birthing. Researchers found that giving serotonin to pregnant cows can lead to increases in the calcium levels of the cows’ blood and/or milk. With the treatment, Holsteins had more calcium in their blood but not their milk, but the opposite was found in Jerseys.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness (and eating chocolate). Low levels are thought to be linked with depression. The dairy scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggest that injections of serotonin throughout gestation might help avoid hypocalcemia. Perhaps levels of serotonin and calcium can be increased by creating the conditions that lead to contented cows.
Source: Elevation of circulating serotonin improves calcium dynamics in the peripartum dairy cow. Samantha R Weaver, Austin P Prichard, Elizabeth L Endres, Stefanie A Newhouse, et al. Journal of Endocrinology. Volume 230. Issue 1. Pages: 105-123. 2016.
- Janet Wallace