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Magnesium hydroxide as a novel herbage spray supplement for Iactating cows and ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

J.J. Parkins
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
G. Fishwick
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
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Extract

Pasture dusting with fine particle grade calcined magnesite (16kg Mg/ha) is an effective means for the prevention of hypomagnesaemia and clinical tetany in dairy cows, but almost double that rate was recommended for practical use as both leaf adherence and spreading distribution may be inefficient, (Todd and Morrison, 1964). Magnesium hydroxide powder has been demonstrated to have a significantly higher apparent magnesium availability and increased urine magnesium output for wether sheep than some granular calcined magnesites (Hemingway et al., 1997). Very fine particle size (0.95 ˂10μm) Mg hydroxide suspension (‘Neutramag 40’, Britmag Ltd, Hartlepool TS24 0BY) is available (405g dry matter (DM)/kg, 168g Mg/kg liquid suspension with S.G. of 1.3). The objective of the work was to examine the apparent availability and also the effectiveness of varying rates of application of this material in providing supplemental magnesium to grazing ruminants in spring.

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Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1998

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References

Hemingway, R.G., Parker, E.R. and Ritchie, N.S. 1997. Dietary availability of magnesium hydroxide powder in sheep and in vivo and in vitro assessment of granular magnesites of different origin. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science. 155.Google Scholar
Todd, J.R. and Morrison, N.E. 1964. Control of hypomagnesaemic tetany by foliar application of calcined magnesite. Journal of the British Grassland Society 19, 179182.10.1111/j.1365-2494.1964.tb01159.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar