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Livestock Supplements |
Grass Tetany Facts...
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What is grass tetany? |
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Grass tetany is a deficiency of magnesium in the blood. It
is most common among lactating cows grazing on early spring grasses. Grass tetany can
lower weight gain, reduce milk production, and decrease weaning weights.
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Feeding a Kay Dee high-magnesium supplement will help prevent grass tetany. |
| View our tetany control products |
What causes grass tetany? |
| Most cases of grass tetany occur in the spring when grass
is young and lush. Availability of magnesium is reduced in early grass due to the
accumulation of ammonium, which interferes with magnesium absorption. Absorption of
magnesium is further reduced when greater amounts of ammonia are released in the rumen
following rapid ingestion of large quantities of lush green pasture. |
What are the symptoms of grass tetany? |
| Common symptoms of grass tetany are solo grazing
away from the herd, irritability, muscular twitching in the flank, wide-eyed staring,
muscular incoordination, goose-stepping, staggering, collapse, head in the back position,
thrashing, coma, and death. |
How is
grass tetany prevented? |
Cattle grazing on lush, early spring grasses
should be fed supplemental magnesium. Feeding should start at least one month prior to the
tetany season. Since magnesium is very unpalatable, it should be fed with other, more
palatable supplements. |
| Preventing Grass Tetany |
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| SUPPLEMENT FINDER |
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