https://www.farmhealthonline.com/US/disease-management/sheep-diseases/magnesium-deficiency-in-sheep/
Clinical Signs of Hypomagnesemia
The clinical signs of magnesium deficiency are dramatic. Ewes affected by magnesium deficiency are often either unable to walk or appear uncoordinated. They will often collapse and become sensitive to touch. They frequently show trembling, and when they are stressed they will rapidly become recumbent with legs extended and exhibit involuntary contraction of muscle (tetanic spasms). If they are not treated immediately, death follows rapidly
Treatment of clinical cases involves the subcutaneous administration of Magnesium hypophosphite, or the intravenous administration of a combined solution of calcium and magnesium
Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge
- Use plants in the sward (e.g. legumes) containing a higher level of minerals, including magnesium
- Avoid high potassium levels in the sward – care should be taken with cattle slurry and chicken manure
- Avoid long periods of fasting, especially for lactating cows
- The potassium content of grass in the spring should not exceed 2.5%
- During high risk periods, introduce animals earlier and gradually
- On farms where lactation tetany is a problem, dressing the pasture with kieserite may be a long-term solution
- To prevent further cases of lactation tetany the flock should be moved off the danger area and onto some permanent pasture or longer-term ley
- Supplement the affected group with magnesium oxide (magnesite) (120 g/day), magnesium phosphate (54 g/day) and epsom salts (MgSO4)
Our sheep have access to free choice baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). I think I may mix in some Epsom Salt and Magnesium. We also mix Kelp in with our loose mineral salts.
My grain store, https://www.hennikerfarm.com/, carries Sodium Bicarbonate and Kelp in the 50# bag. Or you can get it here. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/sodium-bicarbonate
Just something else to thing about. I think this spring I will work on overseeding the pig yard with more legumes. https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/fact-sheets/perennial-legumes-grasses There are a lot of grasses growing out there now that came from putting pigs out there for 3 out of 7 years. They rooted up almost all of the swamp/sedge grass and I assume the grasses growing out there now came from the hay they ate and their poop. I am not sure of the grasses, but some overseeding won't hurt. https://www.deercreekseed.com/tools-n-guides/post/the-5-best-seed-mixes-for-small-scale-livestock-poultry.html
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