One of my favorite questions that I seem to get every year is, “I had a cow die last year, do you know what might have what happened to her?” Losing an animal is never funny, especially with the price of cattle these days, but it is difficult to diagnose what potentially could have happened to cause the animal to die, especially if it happened six, eight or even 10 months ago.

When attempting to diagnose problems with livestock we have to factor in several things, such as the animal’s age, her body condition, her nutrition level and, of course, her environment. One condition that seems to crop up at this time of year when we have lush, green grasses out in the pastures is the condition known as grass tetany.

Grass tetany (grass stagger or hypomagnesemic tetany) is a condition that is associated with low levels of magnesium in the animal blood system. It typically occurs during gestation (pregnancy) or during lactation.

One of the common names for grass tetany is “grass staggers.” The condition gets that name due to the symptoms that it causes in the animal, such as nervousness, muscle twitching, staggering and convulsions. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but it generally occurs in the spring when cool season forages like wheat, oats, ryegrass and other cool season species are available, and when the weather is cool and cloudy.

Typically heavier textured soils that are low in (Mg) magnesium and (P) phosphorus and high in (K) potassium and (N) nitrogen are the areas where we tend to see grass tetany. Livestock producers can avoid this problem with a few preventative measures. The most simple solution is to supplement with a high magnesium mineral. These minerals contain magnesium oxides and can help offset the deficiencies in the grasses.

This mineral supplement can be fed free-choice and is available at most farm stores and feed dealers.

Applying dolomitic lime (ag lime) to pastures will also help reduce the instances of grass tetany. Ag lime contains a certain level of magnesium, and it can also help with the nutrient uptake by plants in acidic soils. It is also recommended not to start grazing until grass has reached six to eight inches in height. Dry cows, heifers, stocker cattle and cows nursing calves more than four months old are less susceptible than cows in heavy lactation.

And lastly, pastures with a high amount of legumes in them, such as burclover, have high magnesium levels and can help compensate for the lack of it in lush grass.

Animals that have been down for 12 hours or longer are poor candidates for successful treatment due to muscle damage that may prevent these animals from rising even if their magnesium status is corrected.

Treatment is often complicated, and livestock producers are encouraged to contact their local veterinarian immediately if they suspect grass tetany is in an animal.

Source - http://www.sealynews.com/