Spring pasture tips and grass -tetanie prevention

In the course of the year from winter to spring, producers are ready to no longer feed the feeding of hay, and the cattle pass the “weakest connection” in the fences to get into the green grass.

Hay is expensive; Regardless of whether you have to buy it or have to set it up, there is always costs. In addition, costs and risks are associated with the handling of the feed. Tractors, feeders and men's hours have costs. Therefore, every time feed is harvested directly by the animal, reduces the costs and the risk. Feeding is the greatest cost in the cow business, so that manufacturers always look for ways to reduce these costs. The extension of the pasture period in autumn with harvest like cornstals works well – until the snow covers it! Another way to extend or “start” the pasture season is to have a cool seasonal willow available in spring.

The grass in spring can be a child's play. However, which grass is available in February, March and April in the northwest of Pacific? Depending on your location, the summer pasture definitely does not grow or can still be covered by the snow.

Cool seasonal grasses and grains such as winter wheat, tritical, some bromes, ryegras, swing, wheat grass and even this evil cheat grass may grow! These types of plants sprout in autumn, have established themselves and hide under the snow that is waiting for the “mild” 40 ° f days to take off and grow. Manufacturers who have secured this type of spring feed are not yet out of the deep snow. Just like every feed, there is risks. Gras tetanie can be a problem with early spring food. The understanding and prevention of farm animals of health concerns is the best way to cope with the grass tetanie.

Grass -tetanie

The grass tetanie occurs when the rapid growth of spring grass does not absorb enough magnesium to meet the nutritional needs of cattle. All cattle classes can be affected by the grass tetanie. Bad storms and other forms of stress can also lead the cattle “out of the feed” and to a grass tetanie for 24 to 48 hours. This stress leads to greater demand for magnesium and other minerals in the body of an animal. Calculation cows change their mineral requirements if they change too breastfeeding overnight. The cow needs more available magnesium; It is therefore critical that the feed delivers enough magnesium during this stress.

Magnesium is not stored in the fat or muscle tissue of an animal, which means that it has to be constantly provided in feed consumption. Ruminaries absorb magnesium only in the rumen. The nutritional requirement for ruminant species during pregnancy is 0.12% -0.15% of the dry matter and increases to 0.2% in lactation. In addition, the magnesium in the colostrum, the first milk of the mother, is three times the rest of the lactation period. Legumes, including Alfalfa and clover leaves, most often contain a dry matter with high magnesium (great than 0.2%). Feeding legumes offers a certain protection against grass tetanie. Remember that some legumes can inflate, so the transition of feed is important. Cool seasonal grasses are known in this essential mineral, especially in times of fast growth. Potassium (K) and nitrate (s), which are higher in rapidly growing feed, can impair or reduce the amount of magnesium absorbed in the plant.

The grass tetany symptoms include amazing, cramps, excitability and twitching, and it can lead to death. Death by grass tetany can occur quickly, so no signs can be observed. The symptoms develop over four to eight hours as follows: muscle twitching, excitability, food from the herd, muscle intake and amazing, collapse, winding, thrown back, thrown back, coma and finally death. Affected animals should be moved with low stress techniques, since stress can suddenly lead to death.

Treatment options are available. If the treatment is started within one or two hours according to signs, recovery can be quick. The grass tetany can be treated with an intravenous and/or subcutaneous administration of a dextrose-basic calcium-magnesium solution. Treat affected animals as soon as possible according to a protocol developed with your veterinarian.

Grazing tips

To consider things if you prevent grass tetanies while using grasses with a cool season:

• Put a high-magnetic mineral block two to four weeks before the turnout and during the rapidly growing feed. Please note that the cattle may not easily consume the magnesium blocks provided. Watch the consumption of these blocks and adapt as required.
• Feed hay before turning on grass pastures. Feed the hay of the cows and then let it into the new pasture. This uses the behavior of animal pastures and a rumen filling to reduce the amount of fresh food that you will consume on the first day. This reduction in the fresh feed enables rumen to adapt to the feed changes.
• Offer access to free choice. This enables access to more fiber. Rapidly growing young plants do not have much fiber compared to mature grasses. Cows require 35% neutral determins fiber (NDF) and 18% acid DETERGENS (ADF) in their diet, which means that the rumen microbes can work properly. Cows prefer green food feed, and you and your calves will search if it does not get fiber. With free choice of choice, your instinct can tell you when you need more fiber.
• Legumes contain more magnesium. In late pregnancy, set some legumes in early lactation. Remember, some legumes can inflate, so be careful.
• Delay participation until the plants are more mature and 4 to 6 inches are tall; There will be more fiber and magnesium.

In summary, the grass on the other side is greater, but remember to implement the practices for the prevention of grass with cool season grass. This includes feeding hay before the turnout in order to adapt to the rumen to change in feed and to ensure access to fiber and a mineral block, whereby legumes are used with caution or delay in the turnout until the cooling time plants are mature. Also monitor the cattle for symptoms and treat them as soon as possible.

Enjoy not to feed and observe hay as your cows graze on these early pastures.