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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:15 pm
by Colin
A local smallholder, who used to own Dexters, recommended I added magnesium salts (one handful per day) to the cattles' drinking water as she once lost a cow to staggers. With just 5 adults Dexters and 2 calves I decided to add one handful twice per week, which I did throughout spring and up until early August to correspond to fastest period of grass growth. I've since stopped. This is in addition to a more general purpose salt lick, which will available year round.
Be interested in what others do, in particular over what period and quantity.
Colin
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 11:09 pm
by Jo Kemp
I use licks - when sheep are grazing with the cattle, a 'black' tub Crystalyx which has added Magnesium.
Those of us who do not use nitrogen tend to have more minerals per grass leaf than those who grow for quantity but I am always concerned about mag. I have had a downer cow (calcium) and there at least one has time to sort things out but not with magnesium deficiency.
I usually have a heck with barley straw in it on offer during the summer as this slows down the gut therefore allowing any magnesium to be utilised. This year I haven't done this as I have run out of straw.....you have reminded me!
Good luck, Jo
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:06 am
by Martin
I have never used magnesium, my land on the north downs is very chalky (calcium carbonate) as an insurance I tend to allow free access to high magnesium licks. I have kept sheep and cattle on the same land for 32 years and never had a case of deficiency or bloat, so much must depend on your type of land. and yes I do use nitrogen in the spring. The local farmers in your area would not use something if it wasn't cost effective, so it is normally prudent to follow local practices.
Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:57 pm
by Woodmagic
I agree with Martin, deficiencies can vary according to the area where you live, and it pays to be guided by neighbours. I lost a cow to staggers when I brought her home from agistment where she had been living happily only four miles away.
I feed my cows on suckler cow rolls that are designed to be fed at the minimum rate to give sufficient magnesium at minimum cost. My vet advises giving a supplement all the year round, magnesium deficiency seems to be capable of causing problems most of the year these days. I never use nitrogen, but this farm is deficient to the point I can also run into trouble with the calves, and I have lost them. I train them to eat a few rolls, and if they are not nibbling sufficient by the time they are two months, I dose them with sheep bullets. I cant put it in the water, because they have access to a river, and I always worry about licks, whether every cow is taking it, although I do supply mineral licks. It is possible too, with a lick to run out, and not be aware of it
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:49 am
by Colin
Thanks for the advice on this. I'll keep adding some magnesium to their water at least for the time being and will seek out the licks with high magnesium content.
I tried to find some barley straw, but couldn't find any. Our main field was reseeded last autumn and although the grass has done well, the clover has done even better. So we've restricted the area being grazed and have been moving the electric fence back in strips. Some good roughage would be a good idea.
Colin
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:44 pm
by Pauline
I lost a cow with staggers,despite her being surrounded by magnesium rich licks and magnesium rich cake.The vet said the cow was too depressed to lick.Not half as depressed as I was with a dead cow and a calf to feed. The vet reccomended beef nuts with a powder mineral supplement added to the trough with the nuts as they feed..I give this once a week.They all look in superb condition,and I have had no trouble since,but I would never rely on just a lick or cake in the field again.
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:40 am
by Saffy
As newby to Dexters the above post from Pauline has made me sit up and take notice! Have others had this experience? I have kept a few single suckler Herefords before and a few multi sucklers from my milkers.
I have also been alarmed to hear of calves dying from magnesiun deficiency which I had never heard of and wonder can this be a problem in my area, I shall certainly consult local farmers and my vet although it was never a problem for me here with suckling in the past we did get the occasional staggers amongst the milkers usually about 6 weeks into a good lactation, followed shortly by me panicking considerably whilst carrying a big glass bottle and a large needle toward a cow that outwardly at least appeared to be more panicked than me!!! :D
Obviously I could make sure all cows and even calves eat a few nuts evey day but if that isn't necassary I would rather keep things simple.
Stephanie
Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 4:21 am
by Inger
I leave a multi-mineral block out all year as well. Its a good insurence policy. Before I started doing that, we had a number of niggling health problems. Now they're all fairly healthy and cycling nicely. I think they should all calve within a month of each other this year. Which is quite good. Normally calving stretches over two months.
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:19 pm
by Jo Kemp
Magnesium and calcium licks are useful to me but I remove them or change them prior to calving. This is because I was told that the body does not 'call up' calcium in particular but possible also magnesium if it always has the mineral in the diet... to withdraw the supply and then re-introduce it prior to calving means that the cow's system utilises the mineral more. That's the theory!
Jo
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:55 pm
by DavidPatch
By magnesium salts do you mean Epsom Salts? Can I add a handful of these to the drinking water every couple of days?
cheers
Dave
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:45 pm
by Colin
Hi Dave,
It's not epsom salts that I have. I sought advice from my local agricultural merchants and bought a 25kg bag of magnesium chloride. It looks like (and probably is) sea salt as it's produced in Israel by a company called Dead Sea Works.
Hope that helps,
Colin
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:57 pm
by Broomcroft
I've got the same but unlabelled. I use it because I have at least one cow that will not touch a lick. Only use a tiny bit, meaning about a heaped tablespoon in a couple of large buckets and then not always.