Lush Green Pasture:

Grazing Management to Maximise Production and Protect Livestock from Grass Tetany

Are your profits going out the back door?

It is quite common to see stock scouring when grazing lush green pasture. High moisture and low fibre in the green shoot means that stock can’t consume enough feed to meet their daily dry matter requirement. Lush green fodder passes quickly through the rumen causing scours and reduces the absorption of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency leads to inefficient use of pasture and can compromise stock health and productivity. 

To maximise the benefits of green fodder, it is important to provide a source of fibre such as standing dry feed, whole cottonseed, dry hay or straw. The manure will always tell you if there is enough fibre in the diet.

Phosphorus and magnesium are often limiting nutrients for stock grazing lush green pastures so providing a broad spectrum mineral supplement that includes phosphorus, magnesium and trace elements can assist to ensure that your stock achieve maximum weight gains. 

Tim Freeman – Dalara Pastoral Operations

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We found that when cattle were going onto new ryegrass and oats, the feed was just going straight through them and they weren’t utilising it.

MegaMin Extra Magnesium increased our daily weight gain from 0.9kg to 1.4kg per day.

Actions steps to maximise weight gain!

Step 3
Provide access to either straw or dry frosted pasture to increase roughage and slow the speed at which lush green forage passes through the rumen.

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Grass Tetany

Grass Tetany or ‘hypomagnesaemia’ is caused by low magnesium levels in the blood and may occur throughout the year for livestock grazing both tropical and temperate pastures.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Suppressed appetite leading to reduced feed intake 
  • Restlessness
  • Staggers
  • Over-alertness or aggressiveness
  • In severe cases, sudden death

Risk factors

  • Stock grazing immature, green pasture and lush green cereal crops, often with a history of nitrogen and potassium application.
  • Low magnesium diet or interference of magnesium absorption by excess potassium.
  • Stress associated with wind and cold exposure, transport, mustering etc.
  • High risk animals are often older, fat and losing condition.

Grazing management tips and Grass Tetany prevention strategies

  • Introduce MegaMin Extra Magnesium supplement and ensure adequate intake at least one week prior to introducing stock to lush green feed.
  • Never move hungry stock directly on to lush green fodder. It takes time for rumen microbes to adapt to any changes in the diet, so if possible, gradually introduce stock by increasing length of grazing time each day. Monitor stock closely during and immediately after grazing. 
  • Provide access to roughage during high risk periods. Mature fodder has a higher magnesium level in the stem and reduces the passage rate of digestion which can help to minimise scouring.
  • Avoid subjecting stock to unnecessary stress. Where possible, avoid grazing pregnant, lactating, or other high risk animals on lush green pasture.
  • Because older cows are higher risk, lower the herd age structure where possible.
  • Spring calving cows are less susceptible to grass tetany than autumn/winter calving cows.

Prevention pays Dividends!

Grass tetany can lead to sudden death without warning so prevention is preferable to treatment. 

MegaMin Extra Magnesium Supplements assist to minimise the risks associated with magnesium deficiency. The provision of magnesium as well as a balance of essential macro and trace minerals helps to offset the impact of high fatty acid concentrations and potassium found in lush green pastures and winter forages.

Prior to using MegaMin Extra Magnesium we used to lose up to 30 cows each year. 

Now, since using MegaMin Extra Magnesium, we haven’t lost a cow for over eight years.

Aaron Ham, Niangala NSW

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