hypermagnesemia in sheep

cotswoldcs · Apr 25, 2015

Having a bigger problem with hypermagnesemia in ewes this year. Looking back on records in the previous 3 seasons I've had 3 ewes die on average each year (Out of 600+). This year I'm up to 5 dead so far and there's a way to go yet. Weather has been dry and grass hasn't been growing like previous years. Sheep have access to minerals and have tried some high mag buckets this year as well.

I'm considering a bolus for ewes most at risk (on best leys) next year but apparently the bolus only lasts 3 weeks. Could anyone who uses a bolus advise how they get on with it and how often they administer please.

Rarely seem to catch a ewe with staggers and save her - usually find them dead. I can't believe how quickly they go!

Went from having almost finished lambing with no pet lambs to suddenly having 7!

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

What is their vaccination status?

Magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesaemia) is generally a feature of rapidly growing, flush grass that has been fertilised.

I'm doubting the diagnosis.

Nithsdale · Apr 25, 2015

100ml of blue top Calciject under the skin.

Bury the Trash · Apr 25, 2015

might not be appropriate -but we had regular trouble at one stage. Next liming we did we used Mag-lime.

jemski · Apr 25, 2015

bovine said:
What is their vaccination status?

Magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesaemia) is generally a feature of rapidly growing, flush grass that has been fertilised.

I'm doubting the diagnosis.

Bovine, why do you always assume the farmer can't diagnose his own sheep? I think most of us have seen enough mag deficiency to be able to fairly easily diagnose it. Personally I find it patronising.
I had one ewe in march, before we had any growth and on unfertilised grass, that I caught as she went down fitting (I was feeding fodder beet at the time). Gave her two lots of mag over half an hour and she walked away, couldn't pick her out another half hour later. I'm sure you would have told me if I'd found her dead that it wasn't staggers. But it most certainly was.

Bury the Trash · Apr 25, 2015

if a pm was done what would be expected to be found if it was staggers?

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

Postmortem diagnosis of magnesium deficiency is done on magnesium levels in the aqueous humour of the eye.

First rule in this game is to never assume you know. Colostridial disease or pasturella far more likely as a cause of death.

tr250 · Apr 25, 2015

cotswoldcs said:
Having a bigger problem with hypermagnesemia in ewes this year. Looking back on records in the previous 3 seasons I've had 3 ewes die on average each year (Out of 600+). This year I'm up to 5 dead so far and there's a way to go yet. Weather has been dry and grass hasn't been growing like previous years. Sheep have access to minerals and have tried some high mag buckets this year as well.

I'm considering a bolus for ewes most at risk (on best leys) next year but apparently the bolus only lasts 3 weeks. Could anyone who uses a bolus advise how they get on with it and how often they administer please.

Rarely seem to catch a ewe with staggers and save her - usually find them dead. I can't believe how quickly they go!

Went from having almost finished lambing with no pet lambs to suddenly having 7!

We are just the opposite to you lost loads last year and not this but we know as they were on new seeds that we didn't graze in the autumn and there was too much grass and they wouldn't come to eat probably had 20 odd go down dad went round 3 times a day and 50 ml of no 5 a few mm in the vein and rest under the skin it's totally amazing to watch them go from sprawled on the ground to walking off up the field

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

You all know the treatment is magnesium sulphate injection? Magniject 9?

Bury the Trash · Apr 25, 2015

bovine said:
You all know the treatment is magnesium sulphate injection? Magniject 9?

dont forget the calciject at the same time

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

For what reason? I would only use a calcium containing product if you wanted to put something into the vein.

llamedos · Apr 25, 2015

burythetrashnottheplough said:
dont forget the calciject at the same time

Nooo

http://www.farmacy.co.uk/products/91-calciject-20-cmd-no6-12pk

http://www.norbrook.com/products/magniject-25-w-v-solution-for-injection

David. · Apr 25, 2015

Presumably No9 Mg intravenous is a no?
Have always given 40ml each side sub-cut.
Can you overdose Mg? somebody told me once that you can.
Is there any benefit in giving a drop of No6 intravenous at same time as No9 sub-cut, to get a trace of Mg into the system quicker?

Bury the Trash · Apr 25, 2015

if calcium deficiency was part of the problem?

Bury the Trash · Apr 25, 2015

subcutaneously means under the skin only- i do know thank you very much .

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

Extra mag excreted by kidneys. Body has no real store of magnesium to draw on so requires constant supply.

Magnesium given quickly IV will cause changes in heart rhythm and cardiac arrest.

You'd have to go mad to cause a problem giving it sub cut.

[with a cow I sedate them (most important) and give 1X400ml Calciject 5 IV topped to the brim with another ~20ml mag, with the rest under the skin]

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

burythetrashnottheplough said:
if calcium deficiency was part of the problem?

What have you to suggest it is?

A ewe down with calcium deficiency and not eating may also get low in magnesium - hence the availability of the combination products.

Calcium deficiency make them floppy, magnesium deficiency twitchy and tremors. Clinically very different.

(mag can look a bit like CCN)

llamedos · Apr 25, 2015

bovine said:
Magnesium given quickly IV will cause changes in heart rhythm and cardiac arrest.

Would it be better understood to describe it as Magnesium Tetany, must people understand how seizures (of Tetany) work, and it less likely seen in the extreme in calcium deficiency cases.

bovine · Apr 25, 2015

llamedos said:
Would it be better understood to describe it as Magnesium Tetany, must people understand how seizures (of Tetany) work, and it less likely seen in the extreme in calcium deficiency cases.

Possibly, but then we have 'milk fever' implying a temperature, when a feature of the disease is a low temperature. It's all so simple, and being made so confusing!

Bury the Trash · Apr 25, 2015

magneject 9 says subc. only bottle.- im not confident in the vein any way. Would a sheep metabolism be different to cow in connection with this.(staggers) ...any way to treat this...calcium boro (no mag) intravenous and mag sulp under skin that way around?

hypermagnesemia in sheep

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