Mineral program for cows on wheat pasture

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Extension   |   Updated: October 15, 2012

Many Oklahoma cow calf producers will use wheat pasture as a major source of winter feed for beef cows.  If wheat pasture is the predominant feed in the diet of mature beef cows, providing an appropriate “wheat pasture” mineral mix will be helpful in preventing grass tetany at, or after the calving season begins.

Grass tetany, caused by magnesium deficiency does not seem to be a major problem in Oklahoma although occasional cases are reported.  It typically occurs in beef cows during early lactation and is more prevalent in older cows.  The reason is thought to be that older cows are less able to mobilize magnesium reserves from the bones than are younger cows.  Grass tetany most frequently occurs when cattle are grazing lush immature grasses or small grains pastures and tends to be more prevalent during periods of cloudy weather.  Symptoms include incoordination, salivation, excitability (aggressive behavior towards humans) and, in final stages, tetany, convulsions and death.

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