Grass tetany is a nutritional
disease that occurs in beef and
dairy cattle and sometimes sheep.
Deficient levels of magnesium in
the diet cause the disease, which is
responsible for the deaths of many
cows in the United States and
other countries. Grass tetany is
sometimes called hypomagnesemic
tetany, lactation tetany, grass staggers,
or winter tetany.
Cows are particularly susceptible
to tetany when nursing a calf or
producing milk. Sometimes pregnant
animals die from the condition.
Older cows are more susceptible
than those with their first or
second calves. Also, cows that are
herded or worked may be more
susceptible to the disease
