Learn the symptoms of grass tetany in cattle
Grass tetany is a metabolic disease brought on by low magnesium in the body and diet. This occurs most often when cattle are grazing lush, fast-growing grass or cereal grain pastures (legumes don’t pose a threat as they may contain twice the magnesium as grasses in the same soil). Mature and lactating cows are more susceptible to grass tetany as they are less able to mobilize magnesium from the bones, where magnesium is stored. Grass tetany symptoms progress rapidly; look for cattle grazing away from the herd, irritability, muscle twitching in the flank, wide-eyed and staring, staggering, collapse, and thrashing. If left untreated, the animals eventually fall into a coma and die.
Magnesium deficiency can lead to grass tetany in cattle
Treating a cow with grass tetany requires a call to the vet and it’s not always successful. A key for preventing grass tetany requires having a very palatable self-fed supplement with adequate magnesium available two to three weeks prior to turnout and then at all times when grazing low magnesium pastures. However, while magnesium oxide is a good source of magnesium, it is unpalatable at high inclusion levels. The tricky part is keeping your cattle consuming the supplement to get the benefit of the magnesium.
Magnesium oxide is bitter, and bitter taste is an inherent intake limiter (bitter plants tend to be toxic). Cattle can also taste sweet and salty, which are intake drivers. The high palatability Framework 365 Minerals and EnergiLass® supplements ensure that cattle grazing high-risk pastures are receiving the magnesium they need. Framework 365 Mineral MG, Framework 365 Mineral Performance MG, and EnergiLass® Super Hi-Mag 12 are specially formulated to meet your cows’ magnesium requirements on high-risk pastures that we typically see under cool, wet spring conditions.
To learn more about these products, visit your nearest Kent dealer.
