Kemptville Haycrop forages, which are high in potassium, will increase the risk of milk fever when they are fed to transition cows before calving. Corn silage is low in K and grasses tend to be lower than legumes. First cuttings of legumes tend to be higher in K than later cuts. Table 2 shows how nutrition consultants and farmers in Vermont handle the problem. For some farms, corn silage is not a viable option.
Many producers avoid feeding anionic salts due to their high cost and poor palatability.
This was the least popular option in the survey. Select a field that tests low for K. Avoid clay fields as they have high K-supplying power. If all your fields are medium to high in K, this won't be an option this year but you can draw K down over several years. Plan ahead by designating the future low K fields and avoid K fertilizer or manure applications on these fields. If soil K levels are very high, it may take 8 to 10 years to return them to the normal range.