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Spring grazing can bring nutrient concerns for cattle

A beef specialist with the University of Illinois Extension says the arrival of spring has many producers turning cattle out onto pastures.

Travis Meteer says early season grasses can pose a challenge to cow health.

“Producers understand that grass tetany can be a concern.” He says, “That’s a health condition that can develop because of a deficiency in magnesium. Many producers are feeding a high-mag mineral through the mineral supplementation to avoid that deficiency.”

He tells Brownfield, “If we’re out on cover crops like cereal rye or triticale, those issues could even be higher.”  He says, “A lot of those cover crop forages are really high in potassium, which can be an antagonistic mineral with magnesium. It’s just really important to have your mineral program right.”

Meteer says extensive research has shown timely mineral supplementation for spring-calvings cows can lead to better lactation performance and recovery.

AUDIO: Travis Meteer – U of I Extension