C32—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 6,1980 Ask the tSk VMD j| I w.’ Leon Riegel If yon have a question yon would like answered by the team from Valley Animal Hospital, send it to Ask the VMD, Box 366, Lititz, Pa. 17543. Questions will be kept anonymous on request A reader asks: Have there been many cases of grass tetany in Southeast Pennsylvania? Are there enough minerals in the trace mineral salt blocks to prevent it? Is it only a problem with cows and heifers, or can it affect steers and bulls also? Dr. Sheaffer comments: Yes there contmuly are cases of grass tetany or more properly called hypomagnesemia. Actually, the problem is the result of a low uptake of available magnesium m the forage creating low blood magnesium m the cattle eating it. This problem is most commonly seen in the Spring and Fall, although cases have been seen in the Summer months. There are areas in Southern and Eastern Pennsylvania where forage plants are low in available magnesium and cattle are not getting enough magnesium m their diets. The lack of magnesium may be due to a tie-up of the mineral because of heavy fertilization, or due to ex cessive rams and fast growth of the plants. I do not believe there is enough magnesium in the trace mineralized salt blocks i ® PtIOSIL Because It: Makes A Balanced Feed Program Makes Silage More Palatable Preserves Corn Silage Has No Urea Reduces Feed Cost Makes Farmers Money Makes Maximum Efficiency of Corn Crop GET THE FULL STORY FROM YOUR PRO-SIL DEALER MARTIN’S AG SERVICE Box 716, R.D. 1 New Holland, PA 17557 Ph: 717-354-5848 to prevent this disease. What I recommend is that a precalculated amount of magnesium oxide or magensium carbonate be added to the ration, mixed right in with the gram, if the soils in the area are deficient in magnesium or forage tests indicate a deficiency. Don’t rely on trace mineralized salt to supply adequate magnesium to prevent grass tetany. STEERS AND MILK COWS LIKE PRO-SIL ( TREATED SILAGE 6) AND SO DO THEIR OWNERS HOLLINGER’S FARM & HOME SUPPLY 35 N. Cedar St. Lititz, PA 17543 Ph: 717-626-2330 Tim T rayer Edgar Sheaffer This disease is rariiy seen in bulls and steers. However, there have been cases treated. Even though steers are not losing the magnesium like a lactatmg cow does in the milk, it still has a surprisingly simihar magnesium requirement. The two most common ways of supplementing the diet with magnesium are: the calculated amount added per batch or ton of feed Silage Activator BROWN & REA 120 Liberty St. Atglen, PA 19310 Ph: 215-593-5149 S r ground; or topdress to each soil is deficient in magen cow. Adding the mineral aura, the addition of the when the feed is mixed saves mineral becomes part of the on labor, and once it is normal management discovered the forage and scheme. u con s^«* HYDRA-MAC LOADERS AREN’T ANIMALS, THEY’RE MODERN MACHINES. . . .AND HYDRA-MAC DOESN’T CHAIN THEIR MACHINES. . . . HYDRA-MAC’S FULLY HYDROSTA TIC ALL GEAR DRIVE ELIMINA TES THOSE TROUBLESOME CHAINS, BELTS, SPROCKETS, AND CLUTCHES OTHER SKID STEER LOADERS HAVE. . . . AND HYDRA-MAC GIVES ITS FULL 24 MONTH WARRANTY ON ALL GEAR DRIVE COMPONENTS. Closing Out Our BOBCAT Rental Fleet... Check Our Special Prices! 3608 Nazareth Pike Bethlehem, PA 18017 (215)691-3070 V *■
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