Using Plant Breeding and Genetics to Overcome the Incidence of Grass Tetany

Sleper, D. A.; Vogel, Kenneth P.; Asay, K. H.; Mayland, H. F.

doi:10.2527/jas1989.67123456x

Cited by 39 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…An alternative to fertilization or supplementation is to increase Mg in the forage through plant breeding (Sleper et al, 1989). Progress has been made in this area with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.…”

Section: Do Cattle Grazing Himag Tall Fescue Show Improved Mg Status mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of an Experimental High-Magnesium Tall Fescue to Reduce Grass Tetany in Cattle

Crawford

Massie

Sleper

et al. 1998

Journal of Production Agriculture

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Literature Summary Study Description Applied QuestionsFull scientific article from which this summary was written begins on page 491 of this issue.Grass tetany (hypomagnesemia) causes economic losses from death or reduced performance of livestock throughout the world. Attempts to reduce the incidence of grass tetany through application of fertilizer Mg have not generally been successful. Dietary Mg supplementation adds to the annual labor and cost of production and does not always ensure all animals receive adequate amounts of the mineral. Selective breeding of forages for higher levels of Mg and lower tetany ratio may offer a long-term solution to the grass tetany problem.Objectives of this study were to evaluate an experimental selection of tall fescue, HiMag, for its ability to reduce the risk of grass tetany through higher Mg concentration and lower tetany ratio of forage, and higher blood serum Mg concentrations of beef cattle under grazing conditions. Twenty, 1-acre pastures on a predominantly Creldon silt loam soil at the Southwest Research Center near Mt. Vernon, MO, were planted to four endophyte-free tall fescue cultivars, AU Triumph, Kentucky-31, Martin, and Mozark, and the experimental cultivar, HiMag. The study consisted of five individual grazing trials using cross-bred beef steers, dry cows, or cow/calf pairs during three autumn and two spring seasons between 1993 and 1995.Forages were sampled each season and analyzed for Mg, Ca, K, and P concentration, and the tetany ratio was calculated. Cattle were weighed at the beginning, middle, and end of each trial to determine average change in weight. Blood serum was collected at each weighing for determination of Mg, Ca, K, and P status of the cattle.Can cool-season forage grasses be selectively bred to reduce the risk of grass tetany?Forage from HiMag tall fescue consistently had higher Mg (22%), Ca (18%), and P (9%) concentration than other tall fescue cultivars. Potassium levels were not different among cultivars. This resulted in a lower tetany ratio for HiMag compared with the other cultivars. Higher Mg concentration (>0.20%) and lower tetany ratio (<2.2) suggest that HiMag tall fescue can reduce risk of occurrence of grass tetany.

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Section: Do Cattle Grazing Himag Tall Fescue Show Improved Mg Status mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of an Experimental High-Magnesium Tall Fescue to Reduce Grass Tetany in Cattle

Crawford

Massie

Sleper

et al. 1998

Journal of Production Agriculture

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“…Forage ) molar charge ratios (KRAT) greater than approximately 2.2 substantially increase the risk of grass tetany (hypomagnesemia) in grazing animals, which is a serious problem associated with many cool-season grasses (Mayland 1988;Sleper et al 1989). Grass tetany occurs in about 1% of grazing livestock, one-third of which likely die (Mayland 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative mapping of fiber, protein, and mineral content QTLs in two interspecific Leymus wildrye full-sib families

Larson

Mayland²

2007

Mol Breeding

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Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and mineral content are important components of forage quality in grasses.substantially increase the risk of grass tetany (hypomagnesemia) in grazing animals, which is a serious problem associated with some cool-season grasses. The objectives of this study were to map and compare QTLs controlling concentrations of CP, NDF, ADF, Al, B, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Si, Zn, and KRAT in two full-sib Leymus triticoides · (L. triticoides · L. cinereus) TTC1 and TTC2 families. Significant genetic variation and QTLs were detected for all traits, with evidence of conserved QTLs for ADF (LG1a, LG5Xm, LG7a), NDF (LG7a), Ca (LG1b), CP, (LG5Xm), KRAT (LG3b, LG6b, LG7a, LG7b), Mn (LG2b, LG3b, LG4Xm), and S (LG3a) content in both TTC1 and TTC2 families. Moreover, the direction of QTL effects was the same for 13 of the 14 homologous QTLs in both families. The TTC1 and TTC2 KRAT QTLs on LG7a and LG7b were located near markers defining homoeologous relationships between the sub-genomes of allotetraploid Leymus, suggesting possible QTL homoeology. Another 88 QTLs were unique to one family or the other, but many of these clustered in genome regions common between the two families. These results will support development of new Leymus wildrye forages and help characterize genes controlling mineral uptake and fiber synthesis.

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“…The method chosen will be greatly dependent on local conditions. An alternative to fertilization or direct supplementation is to increase Mg in forage through plant breeding (Sleper et al 1989). Progress has been made with Italian ryegrass (Lolium rnultiflorum Lam.)…”

Section: Magnesium X Potassium X Calciummentioning

confidence: 99%