After the recent burst of grass growth following the summer drought, grass tetany has been a constant risk on beef farms. However, with the onset of colder nights, beginning at the weekend when night time temperatures dropped below 5°C, the risk of grass tetany has become even greater on suckler farms.
While no one measure can eliminate the potential occurrence of grass tetany completely, there are several factors that can be considered to reduce the likelihood of your stock falling victim to this silent killer:
Understanding the problem
Tetany, termed medically as hypomagnesaemia, is caused by a deficiency of magnesium in the blood. Cattle are susceptible to the disease, because they have a very poor capability to store magnesium in the blood. Therefore, cattle must ingest levels of the mineral daily in order to prevent disease. If not, magnesium deficiency can affect nerve and muscle activity which can quickly cause death or temporary damage.
Identify the symptoms
Unfortunately, as some people will know, tetany is a very quick and often a silent killer. A dead animal in the field only 24 hours after being last checked is something that nobody wants, but is not uncommon when it comes to tetany. There are, however, some early signs that suggest an animal is about to suffer from the deficiency.
Nervousness, a wide-eyed stare, stiff-legged walking and/or a raised head are all early indications. Muscle tremors are also very common in early- to mid-stage sufferers. At a late stage, frothing and chomping in the mouth and/or seizures and spasms can be witnessed. As soon as you suspect grass tetany, it is important to seek veterinary assistance fast.
Where did the magnesium go?
Grass tetany is much more prevalent during certain parts of the year than others. This isn’t because the magnesium goes anywhere, but because the uptake of the mineral by the animal varies depending on certain conditions. During the summer, tetany risk is very low because minerals are easily absorbed from the type of grass. However, during the spring and autumn, risk is much greater as magnesium uptake can be affected by a combination of factors.
Rapidly grown, lush grass is a major concern. The absorption of magnesium from this type of grass is low. This is the main problem in spring time, but also this autumn after the drought. Ground which received slurry or high levels of nitrogen or potassium fertiliser is also high-risk. Animal stress is also an inducer of grass tetany. Stress can be caused by changes in diet, transport and most importantly, temperature changes. This is very significant for this time of year.
Mineral supplementation
To make up for the lack of mineral absorption during these high-risk periods, supplementation is necessary.
Magnesium supplementation can be obtained in several forms including mineral buckets, powdered minerals and/or addition into water systems. Concentrates can also act as an added source of magnesium.
To further safeguard against the risk of tetany, or if you are still worried about the uptake of other supplementation measures, the use of magnesium boluses is an option. These boluses should be administered as directed and will release magnesium at a controlled rate each day for four to six weeks.
Roughage helps
Never underestimate the benefit of roughage in the diet of an animal. And while feeding hay or straw at this time of the year may not be desirable, it is something that should be strongly considered. Buffer feeding with hay or straw at grass helps prevent grass tetany by reducing the rate of passage of food through the digestive system, allowing more time for magnesium absorption into the bloodstream.
Read more
Beef management: grass tetany risk and finishing stock
Watch: Management made easier with six-bay suckler shed
Grass+: new threat for grass growth looms
After the recent burst of grass growth following the summer drought, grass tetany has been a constant risk on beef farms. However, with the onset of colder nights, beginning at the weekend when night time temperatures dropped below 5°C, the risk of grass tetany has become even greater on suckler farms.
While no one measure can eliminate the potential occurrence of grass tetany completely, there are several factors that can be considered to reduce the likelihood of your stock falling victim to this silent killer:
Understanding the problem
Tetany, termed medically as hypomagnesaemia, is caused by a deficiency of magnesium in the blood. Cattle are susceptible to the disease, because they have a very poor capability to store magnesium in the blood. Therefore, cattle must ingest levels of the mineral daily in order to prevent disease. If not, magnesium deficiency can affect nerve and muscle activity which can quickly cause death or temporary damage.
Identify the symptoms
Unfortunately, as some people will know, tetany is a very quick and often a silent killer. A dead animal in the field only 24 hours after being last checked is something that nobody wants, but is not uncommon when it comes to tetany. There are, however, some early signs that suggest an animal is about to suffer from the deficiency.
Nervousness, a wide-eyed stare, stiff-legged walking and/or a raised head are all early indications. Muscle tremors are also very common in early- to mid-stage sufferers. At a late stage, frothing and chomping in the mouth and/or seizures and spasms can be witnessed. As soon as you suspect grass tetany, it is important to seek veterinary assistance fast.
Where did the magnesium go?
Grass tetany is much more prevalent during certain parts of the year than others. This isn’t because the magnesium goes anywhere, but because the uptake of the mineral by the animal varies depending on certain conditions. During the summer, tetany risk is very low because minerals are easily absorbed from the type of grass. However, during the spring and autumn, risk is much greater as magnesium uptake can be affected by a combination of factors.
Rapidly grown, lush grass is a major concern. The absorption of magnesium from this type of grass is low. This is the main problem in spring time, but also this autumn after the drought. Ground which received slurry or high levels of nitrogen or potassium fertiliser is also high-risk. Animal stress is also an inducer of grass tetany. Stress can be caused by changes in diet, transport and most importantly, temperature changes. This is very significant for this time of year.
Mineral supplementation
To make up for the lack of mineral absorption during these high-risk periods, supplementation is necessary.
Magnesium supplementation can be obtained in several forms including mineral buckets, powdered minerals and/or addition into water systems. Concentrates can also act as an added source of magnesium.
To further safeguard against the risk of tetany, or if you are still worried about the uptake of other supplementation measures, the use of magnesium boluses is an option. These boluses should be administered as directed and will release magnesium at a controlled rate each day for four to six weeks.
Roughage helps
Never underestimate the benefit of roughage in the diet of an animal. And while feeding hay or straw at this time of the year may not be desirable, it is something that should be strongly considered. Buffer feeding with hay or straw at grass helps prevent grass tetany by reducing the rate of passage of food through the digestive system, allowing more time for magnesium absorption into the bloodstream.
Read more
Beef management: grass tetany risk and finishing stock
Watch: Management made easier with six-bay suckler shed
Grass+: new threat for grass growth looms
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