It is quite amazing to know that a cow can chew plant material, including grass, using its molars. Because cows chew in a side-to-side motion, their molars chew grass into very small pieces, making it easier to digest. If you ever wondered how a cow can cut the grass, here is an explanation:
Grass tetany
While it may seem simple enough, there are a few different things that can cause a cow to start cutting the grass involuntarily. One of the first signs of grass tetany is leg paddling. If the cow continues to paddle, they may have grass tetany, a disorder that is caused by a lack of magnesium in the cow’s blood. Grass tetany occurs when magnesium levels are too low, resulting in the animal being unable to perform its normal functions.
Grass tetany affects older cows more than younger cows and is often associated with shorter grazing seasons. It is often mistaken for ketosis or milk fever and cattle herders may not notice the signs until it is too late. Fortunately, treatment for grass tetany can be successful, especially if given early and without excessive handling. For some cows, it may be necessary to supplement magnesium with Causmag capsules or licks.
Symptoms of grass tetany include excitability, hypersensitivity to touch, and excessive urination. Symptoms may include muscle tremors, rapid breathing, convulsions, and loss of appetite. Some animals may even be prone to anthrax. It is important to seek medical attention for any signs of grass tetany if your cow is suddenly dead or otherwise unresponsive.
Grass tetany symptoms
Symptoms of grass tetany include a sudden, increased sensitivity to touch, excessive sweating, and muscle tremors. Eventually, the animal will die of grass tetany. While treatment for grass tetany is not a cure, it can help the cattle cope with the disease. In addition to clinical signs, grass tetany may cause other problems, including pregnancy toxaemia.
Treatment is usually a series of intravenous magnesium-based injections from a veterinarian. In some cases, precautionary treatment can be administered if a veterinarian is unavailable. A simple solution of sterile magnesium-sulfate is injected into the affected muscle. However, be sure to administer the solution only if it is required. If the animal is still infected, contact a herd health veterinarian immediately.
The best treatment for grass tetany depends on the severity of the symptoms and when they began to manifest. If the symptoms appear within two hours of onset, treatment is most effective. However, if treatment is delayed until the animal enters a coma, there is no effective treatment. However, you can provide hay to minimize the severity of the symptoms.
The cause of grass tetany is unknown. The disease first occurred in the 1930s in Britain and was believed to be a dietary imbalance. Sodium and potassium are both deficient in grass, which causes the symptoms. In addition, some studies indicate that magnesium deficiency prevents plants from using these minerals, which makes it hard to diagnose grass tetany.
Grass tetany causes
A phosphorus deficiency in pastures and forages promotes the rapid growth of grasses that suffer from grass tetany. The resulting low blood serum magnesium levels can lead to sudden death. Some animals exhibit flightiness and restlessness, tremors, and muscle spasms. In severe cases, the animal may collapse and lapse into a coma.
Several poisons can cause tetany. Some of the most common include ethylene glycol, carbolic acid, and nitric acid. Other associated causes are lent forage and wheat pasture poisoning. In humans, heavy metal exposure can lead to beta-agonist residues in food. Grass tetany can be a sign of food poisoning, and beta-agonist residues can cause symptoms like heart rate and blood pressure.
Another common cause of grass tetany is stress to grass. If a cow is grazing in an unfertile paddock or a field, the grass may produce toxic nitrates. Several types of grass can produce nitrates, but Johnsongrass is most susceptible. These compounds affect cattle by causing magnesium deficiency. Cattle suffer from the neurological and muscular damage caused by excessive nitrogen levels in the grass.
Grass tetany is an extremely fatal disease that is associated with a low magnesium level in the blood. It affects all classes of cattle, but is most common among older cows nursing calves less than two months of age. The condition is more prevalent in thin animals than in fat ones. Replacement heifers are less susceptible to grass tetany because they can access their body’s stores of magnesium more easily.
