O/T Grass Tetany in Beef Cattle

Buckeye · Sep 30, 2009

I live in an area that the soil is low in magnesium and have to supplement magnesium oxide to offset grass tetany deaths in cattle. Why is magnesium oxide so costly? It was cheap in the past. Almost $1000/ton now here locally. Does anyone know why it is so high?

Anonymous-0 · Sep 30, 2009

Is this tetany due to fungal growth in the fescue? If some, there is some resistant fescue available. You'd have to reseed, though.

Nancy Howell · Sep 30, 2009

Steve is correct. The old variety of fescue had an enzyme that caused problems for cattle and for brood mares.

There are new strains available that have the same good qualities, but have been hybridized using a different enzyme that does not cause "fescue foot" and other problems in cattle or cause problems for brood mares.

You would have to eradicate the old fescue or at least enough of it so the remaining fescue would not cause problems and re-seed with the new hybrid varieties.

Check out Pennington Seed for fescue and pasture grass seed. That"s where we got the hybrid Cheyenne II bermuda seed we are using in our hayfield.

Karl in MD · Sep 30, 2009

No, the old Fescue had a fungus (Endophyte) which hurt palatability and would put cattle off their feed. We had problems with it in the '70s. The new varieties are Endophyte-free.

thurlow · Sep 30, 2009

I think they're confusing endophyte-infected fescue with magnesium deficiency in lush/fast growing grasses. FWIW (unrelated to mag-deficiency) We planted some of the endophyte-free fescue, but it wouldn't stand up to our Summer heat and grazing patterns. It was pretty much gone after the 2nd year.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 30, 2009

Lots of Fescue here and I think alot of other shortcomings are blamed on Fescue.Feeding a lousy mineral and lots of high N chemical fertilizer is a receipe for diaster.Feed a good mineral year round and you shouldn't have that much of a problem.Finding a good mineral is the challenge as most 'mineral' is mostly salt not mineral

Anonymous-0 · Sep 30, 2009

Here in so. IN ,, Grass Tetaney problems happen in the spring from my Experience . We use Mag blocks from mid april til June . then switchto yellow sulfer thru summer for fly control . I always thought we had a free pass the rest of the year ...Am I missing out on Something?..a Good mineral program is a must , I learned the Hard way , My Cows would stop eating in mid feb. for about 3 yrs. Standard Fetilizer Knew exactly where to go when I called ,, . .They Havent Been Here for 6 yrs , Thank GOD ..

Anonymous-0 · Sep 30, 2009

Too many people in the world got indigestion from the GFC.Supply and demand ,with an eye for a fast buck thrown in there also.Let's blame China like the fuel.

Nancy Howell · Oct 1, 2009

Thurlow - some of the fescue hybrids developed without the endophyte were not drought resistant or as strong as the original fescue.

Seed growers went back to the drawing board and were able to develop another strain with a different endophyte that had the hardiness and dry weather resistance of the original fescue without the problems like fescue foot in cattle and problems with brood mares.

Check out the Pennington Seed website.

O/T Grass Tetany in Beef Cattle

Buckeye

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Anonymous-0

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Nancy Howell

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Karl in MD

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thurlow

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Traditional Farmer

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Nancy Howell

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