Dosage
Lambs with a functioning rumen — 1.5ml for 10kg,
2.5 ml for 20kg
Ewes & Tups — 5ml per 50kg bodyweight
Calves — 5ml per 50kg bodyweight
Cows — At drying off, return to service, pre & post calving
5ml per 50kg
bodyweight/60ml
Use our copper-free products for sheep breeds that are not copper-tolerant to prevent copper poisoning and support their optimal health.
Sheep Welfare Scheme Approved- Ireland
“We’ve been using Twin Plus and Cobalt B12 on our farm for almost 15 years, and we’ve seen a significant increase in our lambs weaned each year. Twin Plus has been especially effective in bringing up the body condition of our ewes before breeding, resulting in a higher number of healthy lambs at birth. We give all our lambs Cobalt B12 to ensure they thrive a few weeks after birth. These products have been a vital part of our farm’s success, and we highly recommend them to any farmer looking to increase their lambing percentage and the health of their flock.”
In the summer, our cattle’s coats can go brown due to the copper deficiency, and StockLine brings their natural colour back. It increases daily live weight gain and helps animals meet their target weights.
It’s a really easy product to use, and we will definitely continue using it going forward.”
Understanding the nutritional needs of livestock, notably sheep and cattle, is fundamental to the pursuit of successful farming. Essential trace elements and vitamins play a pivotal role in the well-being and productivity of these animals.
In sheep farming, iodine deficiency is a common cause of abortions and infertility, leading to late abortions, stillbirth, and increased neonatal mortality (Moloney et al., 2018). Furthermore, subclinical deficiencies in trace elements and vitamins can decrease ovulation rates, lower conception rates, and increase incidences of stillborn lambs (Williams and Elliot, 2013). Evidence of these deficiencies often manifests as poor growth rates, weak lambs, non-specific ill-thrift, or reduced feed intake
The tupping season places additional demands on ewes for adequate intake of trace elements and vitamins. For example, copper plays a crucial role in the development of the foetal lamb; cobalt promotes ovum and foetal production and lamb vigour post-birth. At the same time, iodine is vital for average foetal growth and development, participating in protein production, appetite control, and adaptation to temperature changes (Moloney et al., 2018). Selenium also plays an essential role as a co-factor in synthesising thyroid hormones, the metabolism of which depends on iodine (Boland, Lonergan and O’Callaghan, 2002).
Similarly, cattle require balanced and adequate micronutrient intake for optimum health and productivity. Iodine, cobalt, and selenium are essential for synthesising thyroid hormones, with selenium being crucial for preventing muscular dystrophy in calves (Kincaid, 2000). Copper is vital for haemoglobin synthesis, connective tissue formation, and the efficient utilisation of iron in the body. Vitamin B12, synthesised by rumen microbes using dietary cobalt, plays a role in energy metabolism, with deficiencies leading to reduced weight gain and poor feed conversion in cattle (Suttle, 2010).
Inadequate folic acid can reduce growth rates and fertility issues in both ewes and cows (Lewis, 2018). Beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, has been associated with reproductive efficiency in cattle, with deficiencies linked to a reduced conception rate (Schweigert, 2000). Iron is essential for oxygen transportation in the body, while vitamin E is an antioxidant, protecting body tissues from oxidative damage (Suttle, 2010).
These academic findings suggest that a diet adequately supplemented with these trace elements and vitamins can significantly improve livestock’s fertility and overall health, contributing positively to their productivity and welfare.
Behind every product is a team committed to supporting farmers and their animals. Get to know the people who make Natural Stockcare what it is.
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