Tuesday, 17 June 2025
While animals showing pica can look healthy, this behaviour can lead to undesirable consequences, such as ingestion of objects which could damage the gut.
The reasons behind the occurrence of pica are not completely clear. This abnormal appetite is generally associated with mineral deficiencies (sodium and phosphorus) and or lack of structural fibre.
An average Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) content of 41.5% is noted in FFK this week, making it unlikely that lack of structural fibre is the cause for grazing herds on this occasion.
With recent dry weather, it is possible that drought stress in crops is responsible for mineral deficiencies. Other possible causes are energy or protein imbalances, intestinal parasites or other mineral deficiencies. In some cases, the cause is unknown.
Talk to your vet regarding the possibility of running blood tests to check the mineral status of your cows. However, diagnosis of mineral deficiencies in cattle through a blood test is not always easy.
It is also worth taking a grass sample for mineral analysis and discussing total dietary mineral content with your nutritionist or consultant.
If the issue is mineral deficiency, supplementing with blocks or licks may limit or eliminate the behaviour. In other cases, rebalancing the diet and/or providing a source of long fibre may improve the situation.
If you have seen pica in your herd and wish to discuss further, contact your regional knowledge exchange manager.