1. Hunger Pains of Beef Cattle
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Hunger Pains of Beef Cattle
Presented by:
Emily, Macie, Audrey
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

2. Nutrient Requirements
Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Nutrient Requirements
Minerals: Salt, Calcium, Phosphorus
Vitamins: Vitamins A, D, and E
Protein: A medium-frame heifer calf weighing 1,000 lbs and gaining 1.0 lb/day needs appx. 1.5 lbs of protein
Energy: A medium-frame heifer calf weighing 1,000 lbs and gaining 1.0 lb/day needs apx Mcal/lb of energy.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

3. Common Feeds Silage Pasture Corn Hay Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Common Feeds
Silage
Pasture
Corn
Hay
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

4. Common Disorders Grass Tetany Bloat Founder Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Common Disorders
Grass Tetany
Bloat
Founder
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

5. Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Grass Tetany
Grass tetany is a nutritional disorder that occurs when cattle are grazing on grass pastures that are deficient in magnesium.
Early symptoms –
Excitement
Loss of coordination
Loss of appetite
Convulsions
Coma
Death may occur quickly, sometimes within 30 minutes
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

6. Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Grass tetany
Grass tetany is found most often in cattle during the lactation period.
Prevention measures:
Feeding Mg in the ration in areas where the soil is deficient
Including legumes in the pasture mix
Treatment by injecting a Ca & Mg solution into the jugular vein of the animal
Cattle must be handled carefully, since stress may kill the animal
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

7. Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Bloat
Bloat occurs when rapid fermentation in the rumen causes too much gas to be produced. The rumen swells and the animal cannot get rid of the gas.
Symptoms include uncomfortable movement and swelling through the middle part of the body.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

8. bloat Prevention: Major cause of bloat: Treatment
Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
bloat
Major cause of bloat:
Eating too much green legume too fast
Some animals will bloat on dry feeds
Prevention:
Prevent animals from overeating legumes in too short a period of time
Feed grain, dry roughage, or silage before turning cattle onto legume pastures
Free access to water at all times
Treatment
Stomach tube passed through the mouth helps the animal get rid of the gas
Walking on rough ground to get the animal to belch
Forcing the animal to drink mineral oil or poloxalene (Bloat Guard)
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

9. Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
Founder
Founder is a swelling of the tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot. It occurs among cattle in the feedlot
Symptoms include lameness, shifting weight from one foot to another, and difficulty to standing
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

10. founder Treatment: Take the animal off high-concentrate rations
Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
founder
Treatment:
Take the animal off high-concentrate rations
Put wet cold packs on the affected part
Antihistamines sometimes used
Overeating concentrates, sudden changes in ration, drinking too much water, or standing in a stall for long periods can cause founder
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015

11. Hunger Pains
Principles of Agricultural Science – Animal
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.4 Nutritional Disorders
References
Gillespie, J.R., & Flanders, F.B. (2015). Modern livestock and poultry production (9th ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2015