Magnesium Supplementation of Dairy Cows Magnesium supplementation of dairy cattle is routine on most farms from late pregnancy through

early lactation. On some farms magnesium supplementation is continued through most of the season. The need for magnesium supplementation has increased due to the use of nitrogen and potassium fertilisers and partly due to an increase in cow genetic merit. Magnesium deficiency causes grass staggers, which we dont see a lot of these days due to the prevention measures that people use. Slightly low levels of magnesium in cows are often limiting production however. Magnesium plays an important role in milk fever prevention (calcium deficiency). Magnesium is required for the production of hormones that are important for the absorption of calcium from the gut and the mobilisation of calcium from bones. The absorption of magnesium from the gut is an energy dependant process, and poor absorption may be associated with low energy levels in the diet. The uptake of magnesium from the gut also is dependant on the form of magnesium given, and the particle size of the material. Pure magnesium is a metal, and this is used in magnesium bullets. Uptake is slow from this form, as the material first has to be ionised into a soluble form in the gut, as the bullet slowly dissolves in the rumen of the cow. The most common form of magnesium supplementation is magnesium oxide ( causmag is a brand of this). This product suspends when mixed with water, but doesnt really dissolve, and requires regular mixing when drenched to cows. It is also dusted onto pasture or added to supplements. Uptake of the product is also dependant on particle size. This is often referred to a mesh size. The bigger the mesh size, the finer the product, and the better the uptake. Coarse product ( such as 60 mesh ) is usually reserved for dusting onto pasture. Fine product suitable for drenching is often 200 300 mesh. Magnesium oxide is usually about 55% magnesium by weight, depending on purity. Other commonly used forms of magnesium are magnesium sulphate ( Epsom salts about 10% magnesium by volume ) and magnesium Chloride ( about 12% magnesium by volume). Because both these products are soluble, absorption is good and they are suitable for adding to drinking water. Both are limited by palatability issues and side effects ( diarrhoea with Epsom salts ). For cows pre-calving , a mix of magnesium oxide dusted onto pasture, with sulphate or chloride added to drinking water is a good mix. For late calving cows, often it is inefficient, trying to dust magnesium to a small number of cows. In this situation it may be best to start drenching these cows with magnesium oxide pre-calving. All the ionic forms of magnesium, (oxide, sulphate and chloride) are not retained well in the body and need to be given daily. A depot form of magnesium is available , which lasts for 2 weeks when given orally to a cow. Magnesium pidolate ( More-mag ) is a solution that is given at the rate of 80 100ml per cow. This form of magnesium is bound to an amino acid molecule, and when absorbed from the gut, becomes attached to red blood cells, and is not excreted like other magnesium salts. This is a handy product to use for late calving cows, as the whole mob can get drenched

every fortnight, without relying on dusted magnesium oxide to a small number of cows. Kevan Stewart (Putaruru)