Posts

The benefits of minerals for your dairy cow

This post by

Liam Lacey | Inform Nutrition

The importance of vitamins and minerals in the diet of cattle

Vitamins, minerals and trace elements play a key role in metabolism, immunity and health, growth and production, reproduction and fertility. Mineral deficiencies can result in significant problems on farm with reduced production, poor fertility and increased health problems.

Why feed minerals to cattle?

The McLaughlins Farmcare mineral for Dairy cow range

Formulated for a higher production cows
  • higher yields & longer lactations imply a higher requirement for minerals and trace elements, 
  • higher volume of milk produced indoors increased vitamin requirements
  • Longer winters means more silage fed, cows are on concrete for longer (feet –chelated zinc). Harder wetter surface, wet softens the keratin in the hoof rendering it more susceptible to injury
  • Silages grown in wetter conditions have higher levels of mineral antagonists (molybdenum and Iron)
  • Higher production – higher levels of feed with higher levels of starch fed increased risk subclinical acidosis. Increased risk of laminitis, softer hoofs (increase risk white line and abscess), reduced body condition score, reduced production
Given above how can we help the cow 
  • Optimum levels of vitamins and minerals and trace elements for a healthy cow and calf
  • High levels of magnesium to support a reduction in risk of milk fever and related issues
  • High levels of vitamins to improve colostrum quality

 

Sweet-tooth 

Magnesium is the most important element to supplement to pre calved cows. McLaughlins Farmcare Sweet-tooth contains high levels of Magnesium. If extra supplementation of magnesium is required due to high DCAD silage diets then sweet-tooth is the ideal supplement to accompany it. A highly palatable form of water soluble magnesium is a great tool in the defence against the main issues around calving time, Milk fever (hypocalcaemia) and retained cleanings.

High potassium silages cause these main issues usually. Ones that interfere with magnesium absorption. This plays a critical role in the mobilisation of calcium from the bone after calving. 

 

Chelated copper

 

Roles in the cow
  • Plays and important role in many metabolic reactions – affects production or weight gain 
  • Important role in fertility – release of (Luteinising hormone) get anoestrus
  • Immune system  

Adding as glycine chelate. These are small molecules and are directly absorbed by the cow.  This improves the copper metabolism in the cow. Copper metabolism can be compromised by one or a combination of the following,

  • Low copper intake(all Irish forages have low levels of copper relative to animal requirements)
  • High levels of mineral antagonists (Iron and molybdenum). A significant portion of forages produced in the West will have high levels  

 Zinc

 

Role
  • Metabolism & appetite
  • Immune system implications for cell count
  • Formation of keratin – skin and hoof. Keratin is also an important tissue in the mammary gland

One of the main rationales for adding zinc chelate is to improve hoof quality particularly the integrity and hardness of the hoof and make it less susceptible to injury

 

Selenium

 

Role 
  • Forms important antioxidant -peroxidases, play an important role in the immune system. Implication for health and cell count
  • Fertility and productivity
  • Muscle 

Levels of selenium are low in all forages. Molybdenum and dietary calcium level have an effect on metabolism and absorption in the gut. Inorganic sources have to be chelated in the gut to be absorbed. This process has happened already in the yeast which is the source of protected selenium.

 

When to feed minerals 

It is important to feed pre calver minerals to cows for at least 8-10 weeks pre calving as any deficiency will not be corrected in a shorter time period. Continuous supplementation is more important to the animal than feeding higher levels of a nutrient that may be lacking for example Iodine. An animal has only the ability to absorb a certain amount of these nutrients daily so extra supplementation will not be effective and only secreted.

How to feed 

Dust the powder on the silage at the required feed rate daily and to scatter it across all the silage not distribute out in a line. The minerals can also be administered via diet feeding but watch out for dry mixes as the mineral may fall through the mix and be swept out in left over feed. 

 

Sweetooth
High-Phos
Precalver

 

 

/by

Tackling your Winter Woes and Worries

This post was written by

Paula Egan| Supervising Pharmacist at McLaughlins Pharmacy

 

The winter months can be a “quieter time”, but farmers as a breed like to be busy and some find these darker months difficult especially this year with everything else that’s going on around us!

Here’s a few suggestions to hopefully help you through these dull days. As always, at McLaughlins we’re here to help.

 

Keep Active!

Exercise produces serotonin “the happy hormone” so even if you don’t feel like exercising you’ll definitely feel better for doing it.  It doesn’t have to be for a very long time  – 30 minutes every day will benefit you and help prevent heart disease.  Chocolate also helps, would you believe!! Chocolate produces serotonin and dark chocolate has been scientifically proven to protect the heart.

 

Boost Your Immune System

Nobody wants to catch a cold (especially these days) but we can help our immune system by increasing our Vitamin C intake, naturally, by eating citrus fruits or by using supplements.  

Zinc and Lysine also help to prevent cold sores.  Echinacea is a natural product used to strengthen our immune system  and it’s available in many different forms  –  tablets, drops, liquid.

 

Vitamin D

A high proportion of Irish people are deficient in Vitamin D – especially during the winter months.  It helps prevent respiratory conditions and benefits immune function. Vitamin D “the sunshine vitamin” is produced in our skin when it is exposed to the sun. Since the sun is pretty hard to find these days a supplement is highly recommended.  Other natural sources are oily fish, eggs, liver and fortified foods.

 

An all-round super supplement is Revive Active, it supports energy, the immune system and a healthy heart.  It’s a tasty powder that you mix with water and take it daily.  If you’d prefer a capsule I would highly recommend Pharmaton (a multivitamin with Ginseng to help boost energy).

 

If you’re feeling a bit low in mood see my previous blog that includes tips to help boost your mental wellness.

 

Until next time. Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

 

Paula

/by