Magnesium Deficiency in Ruminants
Magnesium Deficiency in Cattle
Introduction
Grass Tetany is a common magnesium deficiency disorder in cattle that is caused by a variety of factors such as fertiliser use, soil properties, breed, age, climatic effects and management strategies. The following essay aims to outline the causes of magnesium deficiency as was as point out a number of treatment options and prevention methods available to the producer as well as ways for predicting magnesium deficiency. Improving control of this disorder will result in increased economic benefits in those livestock industries affected.
Causes & Symptoms
Causes
There are a number of factors which need to be considered when assessing grass tetany in cattle as there are a number of different circumstances in which can lead to the onset of this disorder. As a result of the disorder the cow or calf 's levels of magnesium in the blood will begin to decline thus showing symptoms of tetany. There are two main forms of grass tetany, firstly the simple form which is caused as a result of a simple deficiency in magnesium and the second complex form is caused by potassium interfering with magnesium absorption within the rumen. A number of factors which can bring on the disorder include the age of the animal in question, the feed they have been grazing on, pH of the soil, use of potassium fertilisers as well as environmental effects such as temperatures, wind and rainfall(Grunes 1979).
Symptoms
The first conformation for farmers of an outbreak of magnesium deficiency in the case of grass tetany is finding dead cattle in which have been frothing at the mouth and nose with sighs that the animals legs have kicked violently. Commonly cows affected by low magnesium levels can go weeks without showing any sign of ill health however conditions of tetany are brought on with the introduction of stress. An example of this is mustering and yarding of cattle increasing stress to include symptoms such as twitching of facial muscles, a wary
Introduction
Grass Tetany is a common magnesium deficiency disorder in cattle that is caused by a variety of factors such as fertiliser use, soil properties, breed, age, climatic effects and management strategies. The following essay aims to outline the causes of magnesium deficiency as was as point out a number of treatment options and prevention methods available to the producer as well as ways for predicting magnesium deficiency. Improving control of this disorder will result in increased economic benefits in those livestock industries affected.
Causes & Symptoms
Causes
There are a number of factors which need to be considered when assessing grass tetany in cattle as there are a number of different circumstances in which can lead to the onset of this disorder. As a result of the disorder the cow or calf 's levels of magnesium in the blood will begin to decline thus showing symptoms of tetany. There are two main forms of grass tetany, firstly the simple form which is caused as a result of a simple deficiency in magnesium and the second complex form is caused by potassium interfering with magnesium absorption within the rumen. A number of factors which can bring on the disorder include the age of the animal in question, the feed they have been grazing on, pH of the soil, use of potassium fertilisers as well as environmental effects such as temperatures, wind and rainfall(Grunes 1979).
Symptoms
The first conformation for farmers of an outbreak of magnesium deficiency in the case of grass tetany is finding dead cattle in which have been frothing at the mouth and nose with sighs that the animals legs have kicked violently. Commonly cows affected by low magnesium levels can go weeks without showing any sign of ill health however conditions of tetany are brought on with the introduction of stress. An example of this is mustering and yarding of cattle increasing stress to include symptoms such as twitching of facial muscles, a wary
References: Aydin, I., & Uzun, F. (2008). Potential decrease of grass tetany risk in rangelands combining N and K fertilization with MgO treatments. European Journal of Agronomy, 29(1), 33-37. Elliott, M. (2009) Grass tetany in cattle - predicting its likelihood. Primefacts. NSW Department of Primary industries. No. 785. Elliott, M. (2009) Grass tetany in cattle - treatment and prevention. Primefacts. NSW Department of Primary industries. No. 421. Elliott, M. (2009) Grass tetany in cattle. Primefacts. NSW Department of Primary industries. No. 420. Grunes, D. (1979). Grass Tetany. American Society of Agronomy. Special Publication No. 35. Littledike, E., Wittum, T., & Jenkins, T. (1995). Effect of breed, intake, and carcass composition on the status of several macro and trace minerals of adult beef cattle. Journal of animal science, 73(7), 2113-2119. Oxyfertil. (2013). Roles of Ca and Mg in animals Oxyfertil. Source: http://www.oxyfertil.com/royaume-uni/role-ca-mg-animal.html