| DISORDER: | Grass Tetany (grass stagger or hypomagnesemic tetany) | ||
| Plant Species: | Wheat, oat, rye, triticale, rye ryegrass and some perennial cool-season species | ||
| Causes: | Low bloods levels of Mg (Magnesium) (1-8 mg/100 ml or 18 mg). Occurs usually during gestation and lactation. | ||
| Mode of Action: | Generally when Mg > 2.2 mg/g in the plant. | ||
| Animal Symptoms: | Nervousness, muscle twitching, staggering, and eventual convulsions, however the exact etiology is unknown. | ||
| Conditions: | Soils low in Mg (Magnesium) and P (Phosphorus); and high in K (Potassium)and N (Nitrogen). Soils that are hypoxic (low O2), generally heavier textured soils. When weather condition is cool and cloudy. |
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| Treatment: | Treat with intravenous solution with calcium gluconate fortified with Mg and P. | ||
| Prevention: | 1. Graze forages high in Mg (legumes) – (grow mixture). 2. Lime with dolomitic limestone (contains Mg). 3. Increase P fertilizer and reduce K and N fertilizer when problem occurs. 4. Supplement with Mg oxides in the mineral mix. |
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