Over the last 60 years, grass tetany has been recognised as a significant lethal condition in sheep and cattle.Outcomes from this study include documentation of the likely precursors to grass tetany, ways to recognise these precursors, and long term practices that will enable producers to minimise livestock deaths. The benefit of this research to beef producers is that the environmental circumstances thought to be associated with outbreaks of grass tetany have been identified, along with remedial action that can be taken to prevent deaths occurring.Recommendations to industry on best practice to be adopted by leading producers to minimise outbreaks of grass tetany are made.This study provides an alternate strategy for the management of grass tetany in beef cattle, to the more clinical approaches previously recommended. It is suggested that losses from this economically important metabolic disease can be minimised if management practices of beef cattle producers in eastern Australia can incorporate a more holistic approach to farm management, which takes account of the soil/plant/animal/climate inter-relationships. / Master of Science (Hons)