I’m hearing reports of increased incidences of bloat in dairy cows over the last few days. Grass growth over the last week has been high, especially in the south and east of the country which had been suffering from a mini drought.

After the rain of the past five days, there has been a spurt in the growth of grass and clover and it is these young leafy and lush swards that pose the greatest risk of bloat.

Bloat occurs when froth in the cow’s rumen prevents gasses from being belched out and the cow suffocates as the rumen expands. The digestion of fast-growing lush grass and clover cause the froth to develop.

Damp weather when grass dry matter is low increases the risk. Bloat is more likely to occur in the mornings, but can happen anytime of the day.

Preventing bloat

In terms of prevention, bloat oil in the water offers good protection, but it is expensive. Management plays a big part. Try to prevent cows from gorging on pasture which could cause bloat.

Fibre helps to prevent the froth from forming. When moving cows to a fresh break, consider giving them access to a three-hour break first, thereby forcing the cows to graze down into the sward and increase their fibre intake. After they have grazed this section, drop the fence and give them the rest of the paddock. This will help to prevent them from gorging on the rest of the paddock also.

In high-risk paddocks and on high-risk days, you should check on the cows two or three hours after turnout to make sure there are no cows developing bloat.

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