Nitrate Toxicity, Sodium Deficiency and the Grass Tetany
Snydrome - Long Version  Grass tetany affects high producing
cattle and other herbivores being fed rations excessive in
protein. A common factor is excessive nitrogen fertilization of
pastures. Adequate dietary sodium not only protects against
nitrate toxicity, but also aids in the prevention of grass
tetany, and other metabolic and reproductive disorders in
herbivores. By. Dr. T.W. Swerczek, DVM, Ph.D.  T.W. Swerczek,
DVM, PhD.  The factors inducing the grass tetany syndrome have
been a mystery to scientists since the syndrome was first
described in 1930. It is hypothesized that important factors for
the pathogenesis of the grass tetany syndrome are nitrate
toxicity and a dietary sodium deficiency which induces an
electrolyte and mineral imbalance. The grass tetany syndrome is
associated with a deficiency of magnesium (hypomagnesemia), and
a coexisting calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia), and sodium
deficiency (hyponatremia) and an excess of potassium (h