OT Grass Tetany in cattle

Hello:

I'm here in ohio and the cows seem to be hitting the grass pretty hard. I was just wondering whether it would be a good idea to get some sort of magnesium to feed the critters to avoid problems through the spring time, just wanted some opinions.

Thanks

From what I understand I think it is. You can buy different mineral mixes depending on you conditions. I try to keep my best hay until this time of year, to encourage my cattle to eat more hay until grass gets better established,seems to help and cows seem more contented. When they stop coming to hay I quit feeding it.

Ask at your local feed store. I feed one called HI-Mag from the local farmland Coop.

Absolutely, its time and past time to start getting supplimental magnessium into cattle. I start a little earlier than most but I absolutely dont want them to be short. Usually I make the change in January and keep them on it until sometime in May.

Does this stuff come in powder or is it a lick block?

I have fed it both ways. Rural King here sells a "sweet mag" black I think is made by purina. Southern States sells a Hi Mag loose mineral mix that can come medicated or non medicated. Some people don't like the loose mineral because they think they need a high $ feeder for it. All you need is a 55 gallon plastic barrel, a rope and a tree limb.

Keep it in front of them till about the middle of May here. If they have not had any in a while they will eat it as fast as you can put it out for the first week or so.

Dave

4010,

Ditto to what everyone has said before me. In Middle Tennessee I switch my mineral blocks to Hi-Mag blocks in early March.

Now the one thing that I think might be interesting to know is, does the area where you're living make a difference in the uptake of magnesium from the soil by the growing grass? I guess what I'm saying is, does it make a difference if you're living in Ohio versus Kentucky / Tennessee etc?

Maybe your county agent or local farmer's co-op could give you some advice about the need for magnesium enriched minerals for your specific area.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

In addition to what everyone has told you, you also can get a high mag tub by both Crystalyx and Vitalix assuming you have a dealer of either nearby. I've used all 3 with good success, but you should definately have something.

I m sure not disputing anything that has been said but I dont use the Hi Mag blocks anymore . I have my cows on pasture as it starts growing and I dont let them run out of good hay and the minneral blocks I feed yr. round has some Mag. in it . Now if I had them in a some what dry lot then turn them out on a 6 in. lush pasture I d sure use them . If your wanting to turn them out on good pasture and they hav nt been getting any Mag. there is a shot you can give them , that s what I do with my bulls when they have been penned up or break them into it slowly , a hr. at a time and keep there belly full of hay .

It comes both ways, and also in the pure form (feed grade magnessium oxide) that can be mixed with salt on the farm. It tastes bad, so its hard to get them to eat enough of it.

As to me personally, I dont use blocks of anything. There's a lot of reasons but mostly its to teach the cows that when they see me they come running to get it. With grass tetany season, I usually use a feeder to make sure they get it all the time but otherwise I hand feed them their salt and mineral mix. I've had some real train wrecks over the years with minerals so I get a custom mix from a mineral dealer. Its not that much more expensive (11.00 for a 50 pound bag) compared to generic mineral mixes and I know its balanced to my specific farm.

As to grass tetany it doesnt matter so much as you want to suppliment at the full rate. Just too much variance otherwise. Pastures that have been fertilized with nitogen and or potash will have more problems. Pastures with highly available calcium (near neutral pH) will have more problems. As to other minerals, it matters a lot more. I've got 2 farms less than 7 miles apart but in two different watershed. In looking at liver and blood samples its been rather amazing the difference in copper and selenium levels in the cows. Thats why I like the custom mineral blend, he can mix it farm specific.

It is advised to start the hi mag mineral about a month before spring turn out. We have very few problems here in Michigan but I will feed the hi mag mineral from either Kent or Purina Wind and Rain. Has a lot to do with Mg in soils when plants go through rapid growth uptake of Mg is really decreased.

Kyhayman I live over in Shelby county and was wondering where you get your mineral mixed. Where I get mine is almost $20 a bag. Thanks, Sam.

I reccommend my clients feed high mag salt year around.. Loose salt is easier for the cattle to get the 2 oz. needed daily. Salt isn't the only way to get Magnesium but one of the easiest.

I reccommend my clients use Hi Mag salt year around. I also like loose salt because it is easier for the cattle to get the 2 oz. needed daily. There are other ways to get Hi Mag but salt is one of the easiest.