Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:29:04.026Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The mineral element content of spring pasture in relation to the occurrence of grass tetany and hypomagnesaemia in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

E. J. Butler
E. J. Butler
Affiliation:
Biochemistry Department, Moredun Institute, Edinburgh Veterinary Investigation and Agricultural Advisory Officers of the East andWest of Scotland Agricultural Colleges
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

1. A survey was carried out on dairy farms in the south of Scotland during the period 1958–59 to obtain information on: (a) the mineral element composition of spring pastures associated with grass tetany or staggers and hypomagnesaemia, and (b) the influence of magnesium supplements on the incidence of these conditions and on serum magnesium levels.

2. Pastures associated with grass tetany had a significantly lower average magnesium and sodium content and a higher potassium content than those which were classed as normal. These differences were magnified in the values of the ratios K/(Ca + Mg) and (K + Ca + P)/(Mg + Na) which were considerably higher in tetany pastures. The incidence of tetany was positively correlated with the value of the former ratio. These results are similar to those obtained in Holland.

3. The analytical results for pastures associated with hypomagnesaemia in clinically normal cows were not significantly different from those for normal pastures and there was no evidence of any association between the composition of the pasture and the incidence or severity of the hypomagnesaemia or the serum magnesium levels.

4. The magnesium and sodium contents of the majority of the pastures examined would be judged as inadequate in the light of available information on the requirement of these elements.

5. There was no evidence of any correlation between the magnesium content of the pasture and that of any of the other elements studied.

6. Cases of grass tetany occurred in 25% of the 108 herds studied, the mean incidence in affected herds being 4·5 ± 0·65%. The overall incidence was 1·1 ± 0·25% and was significantly lower when a magnesium supplement was given as a prophylactic measure.

7. Hypomagnesaemia was detected in clinically normal cows after turning out in 41·2% of the herds, the overall incidence being 8·7 ± 1·0%. On tetany free farms the feeding of calcined magnesite or magnesium-rich mineral mixtures did not appear to reduce the incidence of hypomagnesaemia or the fall in serum magnesium levels which occurred after turning out.

8. These results emphasize the wide individual variation in the susceptibility of different cows to the factors causing hypomagnesaemia and grass tetany and also the differences between the two conditions in their dietary relationships. It is suggested that dietary factors may be responsible for producing the clinical signs of grass tetany in hypo-magnesaemic cows.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 60 , Issue 3 , May 1963 , pp. 329 - 340
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alcock, N. & MacIntyre, I. (1960). Biochem. J. 76, 19 P.Google Scholar
Bartlett, S., Brown, B. B., Foot, A. S., Rowland, S. J., Allcroft, R. & Parr, W. H. (1954). Brit. Vet. J. 110, 3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birch, J. A. & Wolton, K. M. (1961). Vet. Rec. 73, 1169.Google Scholar
Blakemore, F. & Stewart, J. (1934–1935). Rep. Dir. Inst. Anim. Path., Camb., 4, 103.Google Scholar
Brouwer, E. (1952). Brit. Vet. J. 108, 123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calder, A. B. & Voss, R. C. (1957). The Sampling of Hill Soils and Herbage with Particular Reference to the Determination of the Trace Elements. Consultative Committee for Development of Spectographic Work, Bull. no. 1.Google Scholar
Fiske, C. H. & Subbarow, Y. (1925). J. Biol. Chem. 66, 375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frens, A. M. (1955). Proc. 5th Study Meeting E.A.A.P. Reading. Publ. no. 6, p. 94.Google Scholar
Green, H. H. & Allcroft, W. M. (1937). Methods for the Chemical Analysis of Biological Material in Nutrition Investigations, Imperial Bureau of Animal Nutrition. Technical Communication No. 9, Edited by Godden, W.Google Scholar
De Groot, T. (1961). Tijdschr. Diergeneesk, 86, 1265.Google Scholar
Hvidsten, H., Odelien, M., Baerug, R. & Tollers-Rud, S. (1959). Acta Agric. Scand. 9, 261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemp, A. (1960). Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 8, 281.Google Scholar
Kemp, A., Deijs, W. B., Hemkes, O. J. & Van Es, A. J. H. (1960). Proc. Conf. on Hypomagnesaemia. B. V. A. London, p. 23.Google Scholar
Kemp, A., Deijs, W. B., Hemkes, O. J. & Van Es, A. J. H. (1961). Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 9, 134.Google Scholar
Kemp, A. & t'Hart, M. L. (1957). Neth. J. Agric. Sci. 5, 4.Google Scholar
Kunkel, H. O., Burns, K. H. & Camp, B. J. (1953). J. Anim. Sci. 12, 451.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ladrat, J., Larvor, P. & Brochart, M. (1959). Rec. Méd. Vét. 135, 903.Google Scholar
MacIntyre, I. (1960). Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. 53, 1037.Google Scholar
Mason, A. C. (1952). Rep. E. Malling Res. Sta., p. 126.Google Scholar
Meyer, H. & Steinbeck, H. (1960). Dtsch. Tierärztl. Wschr. 67, 315.Google Scholar
O'Dell, B. L., Morris, E. R. & Regan, W. O. (1960). J. Nutr. 70, 103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Moore, L. B. (1960). Monogr. Soc. Chem. Ind. no. 9, p. 146.Google Scholar
Paterson, R. & Crichton, C. (1960). J. Brit. Grassl. Soc. 15, 100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Powell, F. J. N. (1953). J. Clin. Path. 6, 286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rahman, H., McDonald, P. & Simpson, K. (1960). J. Sci. Fd Agric. 11, 429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reinders, J. S. (1959). Tijdschr. Diergeneesk. 84, 630.Google Scholar
Roberts, A. H. & Yudkin, J. (1960). Nature, Lond., 185, 823.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rook, J. A. F. (1960). Proc. Conf. on Hypomagnesaemia, B. V. A. London, p. 33.Google Scholar
Rook, J. A. F. & Wood, M. (1960). J. Sci. Fd Agric. 11, 137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, D. B. (1960). Proc. Conf. on Hypomagnesaemia, B. V. A. London, p. 36.Google Scholar
Seekles, L. (1955). Proc. 5th Study Meeting E.A.A.P. Reading. Publ. no. 6, p. 154.Google Scholar
Sjollema, B. (1932). Tijdschr. Diergeneesk. 59, 57 and 329.Google Scholar
Sjollema, B. (1951). Landbouwk. Tijdschr. 63, 615.Google Scholar
Sjollema, B. (1951–1952) quoted by Russell F. C. & Duncan D. L. Minerals in Pasture: Deficiencies and Excesses in Relation to Animal Health, Commonwealth Bureau of Animal Nutrition, Technical Communication no. 15, 1956, p. 143.Google Scholar
Sjollema, B. (1952). Tijdschr. Diergeneesk, 77, 451.Google Scholar
Smith, S. E. & Aines, P. D. (1959). Bull. Cornell Agric. Exp. Sta. no. 938.Google Scholar
Smyth, P. J., Conway, A. & Walsh, M. J. (1958). Vet. Rec. 70, 846.Google Scholar
Storry, J. E. (1961). Res. Vet. Sci. 2, 272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, A. (1960). Proc. Conf. on Hypomagnesaemia, B. V. A., London, p. 75.Google Scholar
Verdeyen, J. (1953). C.R. Inst. Encour. Res. Sci., Brux. 9, 87.Google Scholar