Spring Management Tips for Cattle Health

By Andi Anderson

Managing agricultural field fertility often involves decisions about lime applications, crucial for maximizing plant growth. The choice between calcitic lime and dolomitic lime depends on factors like short-term cost and addressing magnesium deficiency in pastures. While calcitic lime is economically favorable, dolomitic lime, though costlier, can be advantageous in managing magnesium deficiency, a crucial consideration in preventing grass tetany in pastures. As spring approaches, revisiting the grass tetany challenge becomes paramount for sustainable forage management.

Identifying the Problem: Grass tetany, or hypomagnesemia, poses a serious threat, leading to muscle stiffness and, if untreated, animal death. Cool-season grasses are prone to magnesium deficiency, necessitating proactive management to ensure magnesium content in forage remains above 0.2 percent, especially for lactating animals.

Contributing Factors: Factors influencing magnesium uptake include excessive potassium, an imbalanced magnesium-to-potassium ratio, high dietary calcium, dietary fat, sodium intake affecting magnesium retention, and over-fertilization of pastures with elements like nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and sulfates.

Management Choices: Balancing forage species selection, fertilization practices, and dietary magnesium proves crucial. Introducing legume plants in pasture can elevate magnesium levels but may pose a risk of bloat. Lime source selection is pivotal, where dolomitic lime aids magnesium delivery while calcitic lime may interfere. Strategic nitrogen applications in March can jumpstart growth but require careful calibration.

Spring Preparations: As spring heralds new growth, lactating animals face heightened risks in lush pastures. Opting for less sensitive animal stock during the spring flush can mitigate these risks. For producers navigating these complexities, resources provided by extensions and retailers offer valuable insights. Utilizing tools like soil testing and wet chemistry-based forage testing facilitates informed decision-making for a successful and healthy spring season.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-jacqueline-nix