The Effect of the Addition of Magnesium on the Weight Gain of Heifers and on Fertility Performance and Service Period of Heifers and Cows

Abstract

As for animal breeding, the heavy-producing breeds are very sensitive not only to feeding but also to environmental factors such as management system, housing conditions etc. The animals are subjected to more and more stress factors since the majority of them are not kept under natural circumstances and as a result of this, they have an increased need for minerals and vitamins [1,2]. For decades, the grass tetany of cattle was known to be the only disorder and disease caused by the isufficient supply of magnesium [3–5]. In recent decades lots of researchers have been done with magnesium in animal breeding, the rsults of which do emphasize the importance of an adequate magnesium supply of various species [6–10].