Information for Farmers

Mineral Deficiencies? Cell Count Problems?
Minerals play a crucial role in all the metabolic processes needed to sustain optimum livestock production. Even minor imbalances in trace minerals can give rise to sub-clinical problems which are hard to diagnose, but will still lead to negative effects on production.

Trace mineral deficiencies can contribute to reduced fertility, an increased susceptibility to infection and disease, rising cell counts and higher levels of lameness. All result in animals failing to meet their optimum production potential and reduced financial returns.

Traditionally trace minerals have been fed as inorganic salts, but this does not overcome ‘lock up ‘ problems where minerals supplied in the feed can rendered unavailable to the animal by interactions. For example, the uptake of zinc and manganese can be hampered by calcium, while copper can be ‘locked up’ by interactions with sulphur, molybdenum and iron.

To overcome these problems and to enhance the availability of minerals to the animal, scientists are now able to attach essential trace minerals to organic compounds – a process called chelation.

• Find out more about chelated minerals

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Looking for a Higher Energy Intake?
Freshly calved, modern dairy cows need highly energy dense rations to achieve their milk yield potential. At the same time, a high energy intake is also important to avoid the excessive loss of condition that leads to metabolic problems and poor fertility.

Now a new product has been developed specifically to deliver the highest possible energy intake from a rumen protected fat. With a unique 100% fat formula, it delivers more energy weight-for-weight than protected fats based on calcium soaps. Extremely palatable and highly digestible, it will help maximise early lactation energy intake without upsetting rumen function.

• Find out about the new 100% fat derived from the very latest in fat processing technology

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Need Drier, Cleaner Cubicles?
When choosing a cubicle bedding conditioner, base your purchase decision on a product’s ability to kill mastitis-causing bacteria like E.coli and Streptococcus uberis, as well as its potential to absorb moisture.

The type of bedding you use can have a dramatic effect on overall unit hygiene and mastitis-infection rates. Straw tends to be associated with S.uberis problems, whilst sawdust seems to increase the likelihood of E.coli infection. Both materials are organic and provide an ideal breeding ground for mastitis-causing bacteria. In fact, studies have shown that sawdust and woodshavings can become rapidly contaminated with up to 1000 million bacteria per gram after bedding down. Damp conditions too, aid the movement of faeces onto the udders and help the bacteria to thrive.

Lime is often used to absorb moisture in cubicles, but although it does have some bacterial kill properties because it is a strong alkali; it is also an irritant to udders.

Proven bedding conditioner products are gentler on udders, as well as having independent data showing both their moisture absorbancy potential and, most importantly, bacterial kill rates. The faster bacteria like E.coli and S.uberis are knocked out, the more likely your cubicle hygiene management regime will pay off in terms of lower somatic cell counts and healthier, more comfortable cows.

• Find out more about proven bedding conditioners