Scour, Pneumonia, Worms, Fluke, Coccidiosis, Blackleg, Bluetongue
We are moving into a world of prevention, trying to actively manage the challenges in front of our faces while limiting the types and the extent of interventions, especially where anti biotics and anti microbials are concerned. These things severely impact health and performance and so it is critical that we keep paying attention to them.
While all of this is going on, its timely to remind everyone about the value and. Importance of mineral, vitamin and Trace Element status.
Calves are the fastest growing, and most efficient animals on the farm, utilizing more of their feed than any other class of animal, however this rapid growth, relative to their bodyweight, means that they require high level supplementation, especially where the micronutrients are concerned – specifically Vitamins and Trace Elements.
Deficiencies can develop over time, with subtle impacts much more likely than sudden chronic or acute disorders, dramatic symptoms are unlikely, and as a result, keen stockmanship, and a good plan for supplementation are key.
Mineral and Trace Element deficiencies affect appetite, immunity, rumen development and function, thrive, growth rates, efficiency and resilience.
The immune system is highly nutritionally sensitive, Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc, Cobalt, Copper, Iodine and Manganese are all important across metabolism, enzymatic activities, digestion, and the immune system relies on them for it’s own efficacy also, think of copper for red blood cell function, selenium and Vitamin E to deal with infections, Zinc for keratin production. The impacts of Trace Elemebts are too widespread and too connected with performance to be ignored.
Knowing your soil, Forage and animal blood status is critical in knowing what the challenges are, and how best to go about supplementing. Grass is not always a reliable or complete source of Trace Elements, forage levels depend on
Soil Type
pH, fertilizer strategy, slurry application
Grass Growth rates & growing. Stage
Weather
Antagonists like Iron, Aluminum & Molybdenum
Build your calves, the future of your herd, to be reservoirs of these key trace elements, using what they need on a daily basis, and storing some for a ‘rainy day’ keeping mineral and trace element status on the positive side of sufficient allows you to have some peace of mind that the calves are likely to be eating consistently, converting efficiently, coping with stress effectively.
Lets move the needle from survive to thrive.