March 31, 2015 • Page 10 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Grass Tetany: When to Prepare BROOKINGS, S.D. - Although it is still mid-March, the temperatures in South Dakota have been relatively warm and a few of the cool season grasses are beginning to green-up sooner than we expected. With that green-up and cows lactating heavily comes the concern of grass tetany, said Adele Harty, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist. Grass tetany is a metabolic disorder associated with lush pastures due to low concentrations of blood magnesium, which results in nerve impulse failure in animals.  “With adequate moisture and warm temperatures, grasses begin to grow rapidly. The concern of grass tetany isn’t normally seen until May, but taking steps to prevent it today will SPRING ! S HERE I G et Yo u r B ike Tu n ed & Rea d y To Rid e! Forget the rest...Ride with the best! be more effective in the long run,” Harty said. How to prevent grass tetany To ensure the proper management practices are in place to prevent grass tetany, Harty said livestock producers need first to understand the factors which play a role in it. These include: • ow magnesium (Mg) L content of rapidly growing grasses and pastures • igh potassium (K) content H of rapidly growing grasses and pastures • igh crude protein content H of grasses and pastures • ad weather, storms, B stress, etc., that cause cattle to be “off feed” for 24-48 hours • actation: losses of Mg and L Easter Drawings & Portraits with the Easter Bunny By Expressions Photography YANKTON MOTORSPORTS 4306 W. 8th St. • Yankton, SD • (605) 665-3500 www.yanktonmotorsports.com Hire the roo?ng professionals Call For a • Our estimators are insurance specialists • A Rating with the BBB • Residential — lifetime manufacturer warranty, non-prorated • Commercial with factory water-tight warranty FREE Sioux Falls/Brookings/ Mitchell Drawings to be held every 30 minutes starting at 12:30pm. Inspection Register to Win Prizes! •$300 Mall Gift Cards •$300 in Children’s Prizes •Photography Certificates from Expressions Photography and much more! 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For additional information, contact Dan Schenkel, chairman, at 665-8051. calcium (Ca) in milk • arious combinations of V the above factors resulting in low blood Mg or Ca. “The key to prevention is to be proactive,” Harty said. “Measures should be taken to minimize risks associated with cows grazing lush pastures.”  One long term approach she suggested is to incorporate more legumes into pasture mixes. “Legumes have higher levels of magnesium and calcium than do immature grasses resulting in a better balance across the pasture,” Harty said.  If possible, she recommended that livestock producers delay the turnout date into lush pastures until plants are 4 to 6 inches tall. “This will reduce the occurrence of tetany, in addition to giving stressed pastures a little more time to rest,” she said. “The reality is that many producers need to utilize pastures when grasses begin to green-up and the risk of tetany is most prevalent.”  If delayed grazing is not an option, other management tools should be utilized. First, Harty said to always provide a high magnesium (Mg) mineral supplement or mineral mix containing at least 8-12 percent Mg. “This needs to be provided two to three weeks prior to turn-out or before tetany is likely to occur,” she said.  Palatability and adequate intake can be challenging, resulting in some of the animals consuming inadequate amounts of the mineral on a daily basis. “Make sure all animals have access to the mineral supplement prior to, and while grazing, tetany-prone pastures, as this will help decrease the occurrence,” Harty said. Another potential tool is to provide hay while cattle are on lush pastures; however, cattle are not likely to eat hay unless they are forced. “Dry forages can act as carriers to provide the animals additional Mg and Ca at critical times,” Harty said.  If the drinking water source can be controlled (i.e., water tanks), soluble Mg salts may be added to the water. 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