By Mindy Ward
Farm Progress
This spring, cattle producers may see cows get a swagger about them as they graze new grass, but it is not a sign of confidence.
Grass tetany, or as some call it “grass swaggers,” is a metabolic disease caused by a low level of magnesium in the blood. Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, says some factors contributing to these low magnesium levels include reduced dietary intake, mineral imbalances that reduce absorption and metabolic activities such as milk production that cause high magnesium release. Ultimately, grass tetany can lead to an animal’s sickness or death.