Page 4A THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD March 16, 2016 Ron Willis USCG “Old School” If I Could Turn Back Time Grass Tetany Ron was born 73 years The There are several reasons It seems spring has in- ago in Nebraska growing up I don’t enjoy the annual sleep- The deed sprung! This bout of warm around cattle and horses and Veterans’ robbing tradition known as weather we’re having is quite never thought about serving Corner “Daylight Saving Time.” I’m the improvement to the cold From the America in our USCG. After Scott not particularly fond of hav- Middle Path wet winter we had this past year. Ground Up a really nasty Midwest winter Drummond ing the clocks “fall back” in Grass is finally going to start Melissa and walking up in the snow to USCG Veteran November, either. The primary By: Don Perry greening up, and if you own Mattee the roof of their home, Ron’s reason is one shared by many: cattle, it’s an important time to dad, a WWII Army Veteran brethren in the USMC, and We don’t appreciate having our 1966 when Congress again prepare for grass tetany. Also a day, but some may need up to announced, “It’s time to move seriously lacking by many only biological clocks disrupted. acted, ostensibly for the good known as the “grass staggers,” 35 milligrams. Unfortunately, to Florida.” Once there, Ron a few years younger, in today’s Some of us take up to three of the people but in reality, to this disease occurs when there magnesium oxide, which is the learned to love the water and society. Ron ended his tour of weeks to recover from this appease broadcasters and the is an imbalance of minerals, main source of magnesium in his parents reminded him that duty serving on an 82 foot patrol intrusion, and studies have sug- transportation sector. Over the specifically magnesium, in the supplements, is not very readily he needed to be preparing for boat and several small boats out gested that we never do fully years, just about every alleged blood of the cow. Older, early eaten because cows don’t particu- his future. He took that as an of Padre Island, TX. recover from these artificial benefit of Daylight Saving Time lactating cows are the most sus- larly like the taste. However, you obvious hint. Having already Returning to Florida, Ron mutations of rhythms that took has been challenged by science, ceptible to this disease. can counter this by mixing corn, befriended several in the local pursued his college education hundreds of thousands of years and evidence for negative side While grass tetany can soybean meal or molasses with USCG Auxiliary, Ron enlisted initiating a career with what to develop. effects caused by messing with occur in the fall and winter, it’s the supplements. You can also in the USCG. His first year after was Southern Bell Telephone We are already divorced the time has accumulated. Cur- most commonly seen in spring use magnesium sulfate as an al- boot camp was prime duty at Company as an engineer and from much of what is natural rently DST is favored by the re- as wet, cool weather is followed ternative because it tastes a little a USCG LORAN station near retired in 1996. May I add that by our burgeoning technol- by warmer temperatures. Cases better, but be careful with this if Ron and his wife Sharon have tail industry, which prefers that West Palm Beach. That changed ogy, isolated in our climate- of grass tetany are usually seen your cows are being fed corn co- abruptly about a year later when both served wonderfully in our we have more daylight hours controlled cubes, bathed in the to shop after work. That alone when cows graze on ryegrass, products as the increased sulfur he was transferred to another USCG Auxiliary, with Sharon’s tall fescue, bluegrass, and small provided by the magnesium sul- LORAN station about 750 miles superb culinary and planning electromagnetic radiation of should reduce the chances that our addiction to entertainment Congress will do anything to grain, and most severe cases are fate could lead to toxicity. north of the Artic Circle in skills combined with Ron’s caused by lush, rapidly growing abilities, his down to earth com- and communication. Further appease the growing dissatis- While we at the extension Greenland, where upon his ar- grasses. However, the risk of rival, Thanksgiving Day 1964 mon sense and natural leader- disrupting our sleep cycles faction with time changes. office can help you analyze your it was -26 degrees and dark 24 ship skills. They are a winning just adds injury to injury. Not The Ancients had a direct your cows becoming sick from soil and forage test results, if you hours a day. He describes this team! Moving here in 2013, they to mention the insult. The idea and effective way of dealing this disease greatly decreases if suspect your herd is experienc- as “living in an alien world”. love our small Towns County of having something as bloated with natural cycles of daylight they can forage in a pasture that ing grass tetany, it’s important to Surviving the elements was a Community. and incompetent as Congress and dark: They changed their is 30% legumes such as clover contact a veterinarian immedi- primary concern for everyone Ron’s words of wisdom deciding the time, doesn’t help schedules accordingly. Roman and alfalfa. Your cows are at ately. Treatment for this disease there, and as an ET (electronics that he wishes to share with pass the time on that grumpy water clocks used different greatest risk of acquiring grass often requires the administration tech), Ron and all the Coasties our young folks: One: Join the Monday after the change. scales for different months of tetany if your pasture soil is of intravenous fluids or injec- had to keep our LORAN station military and learn a marketable Blame Benjamin Frank- the year. Last year as an act of low in magnesium but high in tions which should only ever be up and running 24/7/365. “Old skill. Two: “My experience in lin, who suggested the time personal protest, I kept a watch potassium and nitrogen. A basic done by a trained professional. School” adequately describes the military had as much to do change to save on burning on Standard Time and simply soil test can help you determine Cows that have been treated Ron and those of us for which with getting a job within a good candles. Or we can blame rescheduled everything on my these levels in your pastures. and are recovering should be re- it became our imperative duty to company as a college degree. Canada, which was the first calendar. It was a bit confusing, Should your soil results show moved from the pasture and fed keep our old WW II era equip- A degree gets you in the door, modern country to adopt the but a good mental exercise - low magnesium and low pH, you a diet of hay and concentrates. ment up and running. Whether but your service in the military practice, and Woodrow Wilson, and cathartic. can correct this by adding dolo- Be watchful of those cows in it was a patrol boat or LORAN will get you the job.” Finally, who signed the practice into Changing our schedules mitic limestone which will raise your herd that have previously station, we learned how to “Veterans have a very special law at the end of World War I to to match the natural rhythms mineral levels and the pH. had grass tetany as they are more improvise, not always “by-the bond with each other that lasts save energy, following the lead of the planet...no, I think we’re Cows with mild cases likely to get it again. book”. It was literally life or a lifetime. No matter if you of Germany, which began using much too sophisticated for that. stop producing milk and ap- So remember, a mineral a death for us old school “Hooli- were enlisted or commissioned DST in 1916. Roosevelt made Perhaps I am just having a pear nervous. Those with acute day keeps the veterinarian away! gan’s Navy” personnel to know officer, short timer or career DST year-round during WWII, harder time adjusting this year, grass tetany stop grazing, are Feeding your early lactating how to “Improvise, Adapt, and military, that bond will always when it was known as “War and my skin is still crawling unusually alert (heads and ears cows magnesium on a regular Overcome”, something we be there for support.” Time.” After the war, there from hearing my wife play are up constantly), stagger, or basis will almost certainly keep unknowingly shared with our Semper Paratus were no universal standards for Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back repeatedly lie down and stand grass tetany at bay. DST in the United States until Time” to taunt me. up again. Cows in this stage are Don’t forget about my easily startled and upset and col- upcoming High Tunnel Pro- lapse shortly after. Once a cow gram on March 21st! It will Rabun County, Georgia collapses, immediate treatment last from 1:00-3:30pm at the Letters to The Editor Chestatee-Chatta- Executive Director of is needed to prevent convulsions Georgia Mountain Research Letter to the Editor: hoochee RC&D Council’s RC&D and death. and Education Center. Topics On Tuesday, March 8, I was invited to speak to a group work area is the 13 counties of To prevent grass tetany in include choice crops for high Northeast Georgia from Union of Hiawassee business owners about the annual Towns County your herd, feed your cows either tunnels, pest management, and down to Forsyth over to Hart a high magnesium supplement how to apply for one.