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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #79658
Title: RUMINANT HYPOMAGNESEMIC TETANIES

Author
item GOFF, JESSE

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This chapter will deal with the diseases of cows, sheep, and goats that are the result of a disturbance in magnesium metabolism. These diseases include grass tetany, lactation tetany, and wheat pasture poisoning. They usually affect pastured animals in early lactation, and are the result of abnormally low blood magnesium concentration. The chapter will review the physiological disturbances caused by low blood magnesium levels, why low blood magnesium concentrations develop, and methods for the practicing clinician to diagnose these disorders. Current methods to treat these disorders are presented for veterinary practitioners. Much of the chapter is devoted to measures that can be used to prevent these disorders. Among these are methods to increase dietary magnesium ingestion through special supplements and fertilization of pastures to increase plant magnesium content. The veterinary professional reading this chapter will have an up-to-date manual to allow diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these common disorders of magnesium metabolism in cattle, sheep, and goats.