When people hear ‘grass tetany,’ they usually think of spring – lush grasses, green pastures, and cows grazing happily. But tetany can sneak up on you even in winter when you feed your cows hay or silage. However, it can also happen when cattle are fed harvested forages like silage or hay.
Grass tetany is most often associated with cattle grazing immature cool-season grasses or lush annual forages. However, it can also occur during the winter when cattle are fed hay. This condition can happen with regular hay, alfalfa hay, or annual forages that have been harvested for hay. It is especially true if hay is being fed in a dry lot, which is the only feed source.
For those of you not in the know, you may be asking, “What is grass tetany?“, “What kinds of problems can it cause my operation?” and “How do I treat or even prevent it from happening?“. Regarding those questions, here are some things you should consider.
Minerals 
The fall season can be problematic for a beef producer. As you go into it after a dry, hot summer, the entire herd may be stressed. The combination of high heat, short grass, and low water tanks can stress cattle and make them more prone to disease.
Understanding shrinkage is a 
Despite the time and equipment costs, growing your own feed can be a powerful strategy. It allows you to maintain an inventory, reducing the risk of short supplies and protecting you from seasonal price fluctuations. Moreover, it empowers you to tailor energy and protein production to match your herd’s feed requirements, giving you a strong sense of control and confidence in your operations.
Weaning is one of the most critical times for cattle producers. It is a period when all their hard work begins to pay off with an excellent large calf crop. This challenging yet promising time assures long-term benefits and a thriving herd, instilling a sense of optimism and motivation in cattle producers.
Gut health, often overlooked but crucial, is a vital component of a successful operation. While most people have a basic understanding of its role in nutrient absorption, there’s much more to it. As producers, fully grasping the concept and the factors that influence it can empower us to make informed decisions for our cattle’s well-being.
Trichomoniasis, or Trich for short, is not just a disease; it’s a severe economic problem for cattle producers. It impacts your bottom line significantly, leading to a reduced calf crop and lower weaning weights. This disease can render your breeding cows infertile and potentially extend your breeding season, causing substantial financial losses.
Water, a fundamental element of life, plays a pivotal role in the daily existence of cattle. It is indispensable for growth, fetal development, lactation, and overall production. Despite its significance, water can often be overlooked by producers.
As a rancher, your role in the weaning process is not just crucial, it’s the linchpin of success. This is the time of year when you start to see the tangible results of your hard work, such as your breeding programs. The success of the weaning process, however, is still a question that lingers, and it’s in your hands to answer it.
