Fertilize and graze to stimulate grasses in the grass-legume pastures. Strip graze or rotational graze grass-legume pastures to force cattle to eat most of the plant material rather than just the succulent top growth. A rotation of antibiotics appears to be more effective than the continued use of a single antibiotic. Antibiotics have most frequently been fed in a concentrate or in salt-mineral mixtures. Once cattle are turned to pasture, don't remove them at the first signs of bloat.
Mild bloat occurs frequently and repeatedly on alfalfa pasture.
Cattle with greatly distended rumens should be removed immediately and treated. Managing Feedlot Bloat Feedlot bloat occurs rather infrequently and death losses are minimal in well managed feedlots. In acute cases, distress symptoms such as frequent urination and defecation, labored breathing, and restless movements are evident. In some feedlot cattle, bloat is chronic, occurring repeatedly in only a few cattle. Thus, the use of ionophores is highly recommended.