The Power of Refugia
Worms are present on every farm; it’s ensuring there are enough worms that are susceptible to drench within your farm system, through the use of refugia, that is a key tool in slowing the rise of drench resistance.
But this progression, for some reason, doesn’t translate through to minerals. We see a lot of farms relying on the same old mix (and same old thinking) they were using 20 years ago.
It’s not that those approaches were wrong at the time; they were based on what we knew then. But we know more now, and when margins are tight and animal health is under pressure, mineral nutrition is one area where a few small shifts can mean big gains.
Good enough isn’t always good
Plenty of cows get through calving without major issues, but that doesn’t mean their mineral programme is actually working well. A cow can calve down, get milked, and head out to pasture, and still be underperforming in ways that are easy to miss.
Sluggish starts, inconsistent appetite, poor cycling, failure to conceive are things that are often hard to put your finger on but are all signs that something is not quite right.
Often, the underlying issue is less than optimal mineral levels. There may be a good range of minerals in the mix, but for a cow to fully utilise the minerals, the mineral form can be critical.
Bioavailability matters
One of the biggest changes in mineral nutrition over the past 10 to 15 years is the shift from quantity to quality. It’s not just about ticking the boxes; the focus now is on maximising absorption.
It’s not just about the essential elements, calcium, magnesium, or selenium and the levels on the label; it’s all about the potential availability of these minerals when in combination.
For example, some forms of magnesium, like magnesium oxide, are commonly used, but their quality can vary depending on the manufacturer and purity. Trace minerals like zinc, copper and selenium can also vary widely in their effectiveness based on their form (sulphate, oxide, chelate, rumen protected etc.) If the mineral forms are not right, depending on the diet and other minerals in the diet, a good percentage of what you’re paying may be passing straight through the cow.
The same goes for timing. A cow’s mineral requirements don’t start on the day of calving, but the weeks leading up to calving are vital. Most of the critical shifts, like calcium mobilisation, liver loading, and immune priming must be addressed well before expected calving in order to achieve good results.
If your minerals are going in late or in the wrong form, they won’t be there when the cow needs them most.
Don't leave springers ahead
An effective transition program translates to increased productive performance (up to 10% gain), better reproductive performance, and higher immunity.
Mineral nutrition doesn’t fix everything, but it’s an essential piece of the puzzle.
If your springer programme hasn’t changed in 10 or 15 years, it’s worth having another look. New research, better and more innovative mineral forms, and improved understanding of cow physiology can lead to more effective ways to support your cows in that final stretch.
Other sources of minerals matter too
It’s also important to factor in what the cows may be getting in their water and feed. In some areas, bore water can be high in iron or sulphur, and grasses can also be very high in sulphur. This can seriously limit copper and selenium absorption. High potassium is a major issue during the transition period and needs to be mitigated by feeding a balance of other key minerals.
It is important during this period to look at the total makeup of the diet and address the limiting factors correctly. Applying the correct balance of major elements – Ca, Mg, P – along with the addition of rumen-protected or organic forms of selenium and key trace minerals in chelated form ensures absorption.
Careful formulation can make all the difference to the end result.
Time for a rethink?
If your current approach is working well and the cows are performing, that’s great. But if you’re seeing more metabolics than you’d like, or just not quite hitting the production or reproduction targets you are aiming for, it might be time to review what you’re feeding, how you’re feeding it, and when.
The solution isn’t feeding more, it’s feeding smarter.
Chris Balemi is founder and managing director of Agvance Nutrition
