Premium
MANAGEMENT FACTORS AND GRASS TETANY IN DAIRY CATTLE
Author(s) -
Rogers G.,
Porter R.,
Jolley L. C.,
Leaver D. D.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1977.tb07936.x
Subject(s) - pasture , tetany , stocking , grazing , hectare , agronomy , dry matter , zoology , biology , ecology , endocrinology , agriculture
SUMMARY The relationship between intensity of production and the occurrence of hypomagnesaemia and grass tetany in dairy cattle was investigated from 1966–1970 at the Ellinbank Dairy Research Station, Warragul, Victoria. Hypomagnesaemla and/or grass tetany occurred in cows grazing at both high (3.2 cows/hectare) and low (2.2 cows/hectare) stocking rates over the four‐year period. Pasture Mg concentrations remained relatively high (0.2% dry matter) throughout this period, except in the low stocking rate pastures in one year, 1967. It is concluded that hypomagnesaemia and grass tetany was precipitated by a combination of low dry matter intake in winter and the effects of a gradual increase in K concentration in autumn and winter pastures, following the heavy application of K fertilizer. Under these conditions, MgO supplementation was inadequate to prevant grass tetany occurring in some animals.