Hypomagnesaemia and dairy production
P.W. Young, G. Rys, M.B. O'Connor
Ruakura Animal Research Station, Hamilton and Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries, Hawera
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1981, 41: 61-67
The milkfat production of dairy herds suffering from severe
hypomagnesaemia was increased by the use of oral magnesium supplements
during the first 3 months of lactation. The magnitude of the production
response depended on the age distribution of the herd, extent and
severity of hypomagnesaemia, level and type of feeding and amount of
supplementary magnesium administered. The responses were usually
greatest during the initial 4 to 6 weeks of supplementation and where
prolonged underfeeding occurred amounted to 5.5-6.5 kg milkfat/cow
(heifers excluded) over the whole period. Level of nutrition modified
the production response, irrespective of any effects on serum magnesium
concentrations, and under high plans of feeding the extra milkfat
attributable to magnesium supplements amounted to 2 to 3 kg/cow.
Carryover effects during the remainder of the lactation, after
supplementation had ceased, virtually doubled these initial production
responses. An additional benefit of magnesium supplementation was a
marked reduction in the incidence of complicated metabolic disorder
during calving.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 12-09-1998
