Staggers warning

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Mon May 17, 2010 11:01 am

Beryl advised to feed 2 pounds a head to adult stock, a pound to bulling heifers, about a half pound to weaned calves and just a few rolls to calves on cows. She used to break them up for them but I find they usually just start to eat them and chew away.

I feed a little less to non lactating animals and those that are near dry but it is good that they get a bit extra selenium, we are short of it here.

Stephanie

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon May 17, 2010 5:07 pm

It depends on your grazing surely? If you start feeding on top of a good grass ley as Mark suggested, you could end up with some very fat cows! We used to use mag flakes and bought them from Wynnstay. We put a handlfull in each water trough a couple of times a week. Being in the water, it's a guaranteed intake.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1274112468

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Mon May 17, 2010 6:00 pm

Clive, i do like the water option better, certainly less fattening!
What is the product again?

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Mon May 17, 2010 8:28 pm

If you have metal tanks - the zinc coating will neutralize the mag that you have put in, so it must be used in plastic tanks. Also if there is any other water supply they will leave the doctored water.

Chris

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon May 17, 2010 9:28 pm

Didn't know that Chris, you live and learn, half my tanks are plastic, half zinc plated.

I just think they are called mag flakes Mark. They are sold sort of rough, not actually a product name, usually in 20kg bags. I have no idea how much you are supposed to put in the water. It's like buying rock salt, just lumps crushed into flakes. Got mine from Wynnstay but people like Mole Valley probably do them. Not easy to find probably, I had to keep on asking. Heard about them in a DCS bulletin in an article where someone was saying they had staggers even with licks, so from then onwards they used mag flakes in the water.

AlisonKirk · Post by **AlisonKirk** » Tue May 18, 2010 7:07 am

We use hi-mag buckets all year round and during the winter months hi-mag aids digestion. To date no problem with staggers. We have a large herd and some of our rented grassland is more like conservation grazing.

Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue May 18, 2010 10:42 pm

We, too, use mag buckets at this time of year, just have to remember to put the lids back on at night, and take 'em off in the morning to stop b....y badgers

taking advantage! This year both cows & calves have been taking in far more than they normally would on our old permanent pasture, so maybe it's the type of year we've had so far.

Sorry for your loss, Mark, it's always the best you lose, it's "sod's law".

Steve

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Wed May 19, 2010 7:09 am

I'm not sure it's just about intake, here's an article on staggers....

http://www.thecattlesite.com/disease....iciency

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Wed May 19, 2010 7:23 am

A good article - explains it well.

Stephanie