Grass tetany

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Abstract
Higher fatty acids (HFA) in the herbage of New Zealand grass-clover pastures, and in individual grass species, were highly and positively correlated with total nitrogen (Nt). Both HFA and Nt were high throughout the late winter to early spring, but decreased as the pastures matured. Herbage with Nt c. 5% of dry matter contained c. 4% HFA. Barley grass (Hordeum murinum L.) harvested on sheep camp sites from late winter to late spring contained appreciably lower levels of HFA relative to Nt than the other species sampled. Analyses of samples fresh and after storage for several months indicated that considerable degradation of HFA occurs during prolonged storage.