This five-week old pig exhibits 'stepping syndrome', which was almost continuous as long as it was made to stand. This nervous condition is caused by magnesium deficiency, which can be produced in pigs by feeding a semi-purified diet without cereal grains or oil seed meals. In pigs, deficiency also causes weak and crooked legs, hyperirritablility, muscular twitching, reluctance to stand, tetany, and eventually death. Magnesium deficiency is aggravated by high dietary calcium and phosphorus because they depress magnesium absorption. High dietary manganese with low magnesium has increased the severity of seizures and death in growing pigs.

Magnesium deficiency in swine

Credit: D. E. Ullrey

Digital Credit: Melissa Foster

Publisher: The American Institute of Nutrition

Rights: No rights reserved - image is in the public domain

Description: This five-week old pig exhibits 'stepping syndrome', which was almost continuous as long as it was made to stand. This nervous condition is caused by magnesium deficiency, which can be produced in pigs by feeding a semi-purified diet without cereal grains or oil seed meals. In pigs, deficiency also causes weak and crooked legs, hyperirritablility, muscular twitching, reluctance to stand, tetany, and eventually death. Magnesium deficiency is aggravated by high dietary calcium and phosphorus because they depress magnesium absorption. High dietary manganese with low magnesium has increased the severity of seizures and death in growing pigs.

Resolution: 2813x1866

File Size: 3.36 MB

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Magnesium deficiency in swine

Credit: D. E. Ullrey

Digital Credit: Melissa Foster

Publisher: The American Institute of Nutrition