Grass Tetany (Tables 20 and 22) 
Grass tetany, or wheat-pasture poisoning, occurs chiefly among 
cattle and sheep grazing on lush growths of green forages. During 
the last decade there have been severe losses in cattle grazed 
on green-wheat pasturage in the Texas Panhandle and losses in both 
cattle and sheep in Kansas and Oklahoma and adjoining areas. Loss- 
es have occurred on other small-grain pastures in Mississippi, as 
well as on perennial grass pastures in other parts of the country. 
The exact cause of this disorder is unknow, but it appears to be 
a physiological disturbance induced by the pasturage. The onset 
of the disease is sudden, and the animals generally die unless 
treatment is administered, such as injection of calcium gluconate 
or similar material. 
In the wheat-growing areas of the Southwest, the disease fluc- 
tuates from year to year, depending on the weather md the growth 
of wheat during the fall and winter months, 
Enteritis in Rabbits (Table 2):) 
Enteritis in rabbits has been tentatively classed as of nutrie 
tional origin, or at least as partially controllable by dietary 
means. It is characterized by listlessness, lack of appetite, 
diarrhea, rough hair coat, and related symptoms. Death losses 
are rather high, and gains of young rabbits are decreased. Anti- 
biotic supplementation of rabbit diets appears to reduce the 
incidence of the disorder, but effective control is not yet a 
reality. 
Ketosis (Table 20) 
Ketosis, or acetonemia, is one of the most troublesome and widely 
distributed diseases of milking cows. Animals are generally af- 
fected early in lactation. They show loss of appetite, depressed 
appearance, loss of weight, and drop in milk production. Death 
losses are low. Methods of treatment that have been developed 
are reasonably effective but costly. Means of prevention through 
feeding are only partially effective. Like grass tetany, the 
disorder appears to be physiological, possibly induced by imbalance 
of feed nutrients. About percent of the milking cows are suffi- 
ciently affected each year to require treatment. 
Low Hatchability of Eggs (Table 23} 
Each year low hatchability of poultry eggs entails serious 
economic losses. Much of this low hatchability is due to nutri- 
tional deficiencies or imbalances in the diets of the breeding 
flocks, particularly vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Genetics, 
_ physiology, and management also enter into the picture. The an- 
nual loss is estimated at 375 million eggs, or about 0.6 percent 
of total production, worth over $12 million. 
eo alhiee 
