Bloat

[groubearfarm]

My cows have been out at grass keep for a couple of months, one got bloated during the wet weather a couple of weeks ago, and we duly brought her in and fed her hay then let her out again. Then over the last couple of days she and now another got bloated (it is not frothy bloat and it goes after a few hours of being kept off the field) I will now restrict their grazing but in the mean time has anyone any ideas of anything that might be growing in the field which could cause such a problem. There is very little clover in the field, it is on the Exe flood plain and we haven't to my knowledge had the problem before either with these particular animals or field.

[Jo Kemp]

I try to keep a heck with some barley or (at the moment, )oat straw in it and they really eat it this weather when the grass is soft and growing fast.
So far so good - no bloat but also, no fertiliser, only cacified seaweed or similar on the ground apart from the usual from the sheep and the cows!
Jo

[Jo Kemp]

I try to keep a heck with some barley or (at the moment, )oat straw in it and they really eat it this weather when the grass is soft and growing fast.
So far so good - no bloat but also, no fertiliser, only calcified seaweed or similar on the ground apart from the usual from the sheep and the cows!
Jo

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I think Jo's advice is good, get some straw out to them or even hay or silage if you have not straw. It will increase their dry matter and fibre intake. I don't know what your grass is like in the deep south just now but here on Bute we have had a lot of wet cold days even into June and I am seeing dairy cows suffering. Be very watchful and if the problem is increasing be ready to move them to another field if you can.

Very often no obvious cause for such bloat can be seen. I think it may well be the result of less than optimal fermentation in the rumen due to unusually wet and soft grass.

I usually give farmers a bottle called "birp" to drench them with if it is severe.

Duncan