maybe hypomagnesaemia, maybe not?

[Mima]

Hi there, if anyone can add their experience/advice I'd be extremly greatfull.

It was a sad day today I lost one of my new Dexter cows after only 3 weeks of ownership, just as they finished their quarantine period. She was 12yrs old, so slightly older than ideal i know but she had good calving history and looked well enough at viewing and collection. They had been kept in during TB test period prior to purchase and they then went straight onto a well covered field which they ate down in under 2 weeks. Last years calf had also been seen suckling, presumably as grass was then sparce and she was still running plenty of milk, don't think it had been weaned actually. They were fed haylage as they needed to stay in that paddock isolated from the resident herd. Hi-Mag lick was available but not sure she used it. Symptons started at about 10 days- 2 weeks after arriving, looking like an arthritic condition this increased quickly over last few days till the day we moved them (Sun) when she was lying down but alert, she got up but found moving very difficult. After surfing internet and this site I concluded proberbility of hypomagnesaemia and injected sub cut magnesium, (I'm new to dexters but experienced with horses) she seamed to perk up the next morning (yesterday) and had moved around, was eating and drinking but still not perfect so after chat and advice from vet I injected sub cut Calciject yesterday eve. This morning she was down on her side and 'out of it', frothy mouth, stiff legs and neck, she certainly had deterioated, we manage to roll her uoright but she never got up, vet came out, more magnesium administered, took bloods which came back as ok, but no still no improvement and this afternoon we decided to sadly let her go after advice was given that we shouldn't put her in calf again, which was the plan for her.

i just wondered if anyone has any advice/comments on this situation? Was it just due to hypomagnesaemia or was there another underlying condition. We also have Belted Galloways and have never had this trouble before. Our cattle are out all year round, and I just wonder if at 12 yrs old it was to old to adapt to a new routine/home, All the others seam fine, so far!!

[Saffy]

I don't think she was too old for a new home as I have two dexters of that age that I have bought in and they have been fine but I lost an even older one to possible mag def once.
So sorry to hear that you lost your cow it is always really upsetting but it happens in all herds!

Stephanie

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I don't have any figures to prove it, but I think that Dexters are quite susceptible to Staggers, and it often happens during periods of stress such as just after a move. I lost one myself after moving her from Shropshire to Bute, also in quarantine in a field with her sister, grass and hay available, just found dead one morning after I had fed them. Lab tests on fluid from an eye confirmed hypomag, her calf was adopted by her sister who was just due to calf.

I would advise anyone with a suspect staggers to contact their vet immediately. It can be much more difficult to make a firm diagnosis and treat successfully when some magnesium or calcium has already been given. Many vet practices can now do blood calcium or magnesium levels "in house" so get results very quickly if there is any doubt, and seeing the animal immediatley lets this be done before there are any other influences.

Magnesium staggers is one of the conditions I really hate treating as a vet as they can die before your eyes despite doing everything right, or recover to a certain extent but refuse to get up. Sorry you have lost a cow just as you are getting started, please don't let it discourage you.

Duncan

[Mima]

HI, Thanks for your replies Stephanie and Duncan, It's going to take alot more than todays events to discourage me from the little cows! but learn from them I will! The other 11 dexters have settled in well with no issues but I guess if the breed are more prone to suffering with staggers I will factor that it to any management decission. I can't have my Dad prove the Belties have no competition for producing prime sustainable tasty beef now can I?

[wagra dexters]

Duncan, hypomagnesaemia, magnesium staggers, and grass tetany: are they all the same illness?
Stephanie, is that the same as what Palm Chat had?
I haven't heard of tetany here except in spring after calving, before the clover takes off which, I was told, is why it's called 'grass' tetany.
We make sure their clostridial shots are up to date before moving cattle any distance because farmers around here usually suspect pulpy kidney in cases of post-movement death, or change of feed. Whether that belief has any basis, I don't know.
Margaret

[Saffy]

Yes Margaret as far as we could tell Palmchat probably died of Hypo Mag. Although she was getting plenty of magnesium in her fodder as I had it tested but as she had just been moved, which would cause stress and she was 13 years old which all adds up. Also she was a cow that always tended to be loose, so she probably found it harder to take in the magnesium as efficiently than other cows. I had her on a bit of nice hay to try to combat the loose dung but it wasn't having the desired effect.

Ever since then I have managed to get hold of Mole Valley suckler rolls for my dexters which the rep delivers from the boot of his car - he is a star! They are a High Mag ration and I feed it daily, it is the easiest way to be sure, as I watch them each consume it.

Stephanie

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Grass staggers, grass tetany, staggers, hypomagnesaemia, all refer to the drop of magnesium levels below a critical point. This can occur in various circumstances, hence some of the names. It can happen in spring when grass growth has been fast, often made worse by high moisture content, which often accompanies heavy rain and cold weather - so stress comes into the equation. It can occur in the autumn due to very similar conditions. Wet grass goes through the digestion of the cow very quickly, contains less magnesium due to rapid growth and the cow absorbs less due to the fast passage through the gut. Staggers can also occur in winter due purely to low magnesium intake, again compounded by cold wet weather stress. And it can follow moves.Cows affected are often in season - I have treated 4 in the last few days, 3 holsteins and an Aberdeen Angus, two showing definite signs of oestrus.

To prevent staggers we need to ensure adequate magnesium intake, slow the passage of wet grass, and avoid stress if possible. This means in effect providing high magnesium feed at appropriate times, or mineral licks or both, providing good quality roughage if the grass is too wet and lush - ie put out good quality straw bales, or hay, or even silage if you don't have the other things. And always remember if you have had one case then others in the herd may be on the brink so handle and move them very quietly.

Duncan

[wagra dexters]

Duncan, that explains why we only see it in spring in this area.
We don't usually see green grass at any other time.
Margaret