Cows eating stones

[In the pit]

We heard all the crap of salt and acidosis (grass protein at 24.7 cp at the moment so don't need a high protein cake) but what we had was a cake company slowly decreasing the phosphate levels in cake as there doing in holland
the cow needs a amount of phosphate daily otherwise she will use the phosphate from her bones to support herself
Lots of spring callers round me who upped there phosphate levels and cured the problem
Are you serving yet and finding stones in there dung

 

[Devon lad]

Either do some internet research yourself or speak to (preferably) a vet or a nutritionist then!

And to add, internal parasites may affect ability to metabolise some nutrients so that's an extra complication.

I’ve done internet research and I’m totally confused, thats why I’m asking here. we have hardy grass rats not high yielded. The discussion group all say salt, but it is just an all spring calving grass rat discussion group

 

[Princess Pooper]

Sorry this was interrupted for other posts, should follow on from the acidosis comments... look for cud balls (bad news) and healthy cudding activity (good news). Should chew each mouthful of cud at least 50 times before swallowing it again.
As an aside, all our cattle do have free access to rock salt at least part of the day eg when they come in for milking. From weaning age.

 

[In the pit]

With acidosis you will get a watery bubbly dung

 

[Devon lad]

You maybe able to discount acidosis by watching them lying down to see whether or not they are uncomfortable and kicking out.

Not seen any of that they’re pretty content at the moment, muck isn’t the usual 2nd round stuff high in protein that hits you horizontally in the parlour, more 45 degrees

 

[Devon lad]

With acidosis you will get a watery bubbly dung

None of that

 

[Devon lad]

salt is just good practise and won’t cost the earth. If they have acidosis they’ll go nuts for if and wolf it down.

if it’s low phosphate you need to get on is ASAP it nearly ruined a herd locally. Vets failed to find it. Couldn’t hold any pregnancies for 6 months. Worst still from what I heard it was dirt cheap to sort in the end.

Phosphate only came from google diagnosis

 

[In the pit]

Redirect Notice

All you need to know

 

[Devon lad]

Redirect Notice

All you need to know

I’ve read that article and with breeding 1 week away I started shutting myself, gonna get some bloods done on Monday I think

 

[In the pit]

Your cake should have a percentage of dicalcium phosphate in it to support the cows needs

 

[O'Reilly]

Put salt out, costs peanuts. Ask your supplier where the phosphorus has gone, and rectify that. Some rain will probably sort your protein levels out, supposed to be some this week, not sure if it will in Devon though. Watch those ureas, but don't rush to up the protein in your cake in case rain comes and puts it too high. You will then have covered all bases, rather than worrying about which it MIGHT be.

 

[In the pit]

Had it bad here a few years ago
I bet didn't have a clue so a bit of googling and answers were found
Our cows were so bad that two slipped over and broke legs there bones were so brittle

 

[lazy farmer]

Just as an aside.
We had a situation a few yrs back where we were getting phosphorus lock up by feeding 50% sugar beet in the parlour. Adding extra phos didn’t help. The situation resolved by taking out the sugar beet.
I personally think. It’s a phos deficiency rather than lock up but it wouldn’t hurt to check your ration.

 

[Devon lad]

0.43% total phos

 

[lazy farmer]

Put salt out, costs peanuts. Ask your supplier where the phosphorus has gone, and rectify that. Some rain will probably sort your protein levels out, supposed to be some this week, not sure if it will in Devon though. Watch those ureas, but don't rush to up the protein in your cake in case rain comes and puts it too high. You will then have covered all bases, rather than worrying about which it MIGHT be.

As above plus a few blood samples for phos wouldn’t hurt.

 

[Irish NZ]

What are they wintered on?

Get some out to look at your cows and do some blood work. No point getting all the experts on here you haven't seen your cows giving diagnosis it'll only muddy the water more. (Not saying anyone is right or wrong to it could have some compounding effects so more than 1 right answer) plus if you do everything thats recommended on here and it solves the problem you will never know the true problem and it could happen again.

 

[wooly619]

Could be getting lock ups from high aluminium or molybdenum levels in soil or forage. Always test the forage not the soil in my option because it’s what the plant it taking up and what they are eating

 

[jerseycowsman]

Low, we put it down to not hitting residual great in the spring 1700ish

I never graze my paddocks down to anywhere near that level, about 2100 is about as low as mine are forced. My spring calving jerseys are currently average 24 litres at 5.1 fat and 3.8 protein

 

[Devon lad]

I never graze my paddocks down to anywhere near that level, about 2100 is about as low as mine are forced. My spring calving jerseys are currently average 24 litres at 5.1 fat and 3.8 protein

All grass?

 

[Dhd]

Have exactly same problem here with herd of autumn calvers on second round. Offered wholecrop as buffer on the way out of am milking. Blood sampling tomorrow for phos and rocksalt out.