Grass tetany is a potentially lethal metabolic disease in ruminants caused by a magnesium deficiency in the diet. Grass tetany is a major concern on lush pasture, especially in early spring. In most cases, this stockpiled pasture has good forage quality. Similarly, some producers carry over some fall-stockpiled pasture that is higher in fiber for use during early spring. However, many farmers claim that their livestock ignore hay when pasture is available. Another strategy is to provide quality dry hay that animals will find palatable. One strategy for dealing with overly lush pasture includes delaying turnout until forage supply and dry matter content are higher. Care should be taken to ensure that animals do not lose body condition (Pasha et al. If animals with loose stools do not appear lethargic, wormy, or hungry, there is probably not a need for concern. Loose stools in livestock do not necessarily indicate a problem. Fortunately, lush pasture and the problems associated with it are generally short-lived. When coupled with high moisture content, the rate of passage through the animal for low-fiber forages can be fast, limiting nutrient absorption in addition to creating loose stools. Spring grasses prior to the transition phase are typically low in fiber content as well. During early spring when grasses are short, livestock may not be able to take enough bites or graze long enough to meet intake requirements. Livestock on lush pasture, especially lactating or growing animals, can reach rumen capacity before they have consumed enough dry matter to meet their energy needs. While year-to-year variations in weather make it difficult to make predictions about the springflush, this publication introduces several practices that farmers can use in developing a general grazing plan or responding to changing farm conditions.įorage moisture content in early spring is often as high as 75-85%, which presents some nutritional challenges. Perhaps most importantly, capturing excess spring pasture production for later use through haymaking or stockpiling can help extend the overall grazing season for better profitability (Burdine et al. Additionally, grazing management that promotes leafy, vegetative growth improves forage quality during the spring flush is needed to meet the nutritional needs of lactating, breeding, or growing animals. Grazing used to manage the quantity of grass present can minimize the need for mechanical clipping or harvest, reduce grass competition to legumes, and maintain aesthetics.
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