Q: Is lime good for stock? A: Because it's completely natural, it's fine for the stock and actually makes the grass more palatable.

• Lime improves pasture quality and actually reduces the plant uptake of heavy metals from the soil, making the pasture more palatable. Because the feed is in better condition, animals will eat to appetite rather than just eat enough to meet their maintenance needs.
• Because the pasture is in better condition, animals will eat more which results in more production. Research actually shows limed pasture is so appetising that stock will eat it to the ground before unlimed sections, when given the choice.
• Better quality pasture is also very beneficial for nursing stock. Because of the highly nutritious pasture they are eating, the young stock they produce are in top condition.

Caution is needed though

• Farmers need to be aware of the risks of grazing dry cows in late pregnancy on recently limed pastures. Lime can have a negative effect on cows in the transition period leading to calcium deficiency (milk-fever).
• Cows naturally defend themselves against milk-fever by mobilising calcium in their bodies. If pregnant dairy cows (springers) ingest calcium through lime particles still around on recently limed pastures pre-calving, the cow's metabolism tells it that it doesn't need to mobilise calcium as there is enough in its diet. When the cow does calve though, it is unable to mobilise sufficient calcium in its blood and may "fall over" with the condition hypocalcaemia or milk-fever. This is an Aglime induced calcium deficiency.

 

 

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