Grass Tetany

Yes I would rather be writing reports on planting progress and field conditions, but yesterday's report may be the only one from the field this week.  We had about 2/10ths of and inch of rain today which would not be bad if the forecast was for dry weather the rest of the week, but we have rain in the forecast the rest of the week.

That brings us to grass tetany.  Grass tetany is a soil related disease found mostly in lactating dairy cows.  Low calcium and magnesium is the culprit.  Those who say that there is no need to soil test for anything  but phosphate, potash and pH are missing out on other soil related issues that can come to light with a complete soil test.  Grass tetany is untreatable at this point except by feeding supplemental minerals or in the case where a cow has symptoms, veterinarian intervention. 

Soil testing and application of needed minerals will help prevent the disease.  Dolomitic (high magnesium) limestone is good prevention on low magnesium soils.  Low magnesium soils are common in Southern Illinois because we tend to have high calcium lime.  Trucking lime from central Illinois seems foolish until one of your cows goes down.

Purdue University put out a good article on grass tetany and  bloat.  Bloat is unrelated to grass tetany, but another common problem in the early spring.