Without an appropriate mineral balance your herd may not perform up to expectations or could display negative effects, so mineral nutrition is critically important. You should take a very close look at your mineral program to see if changes need to be made to enhance the health and performance of your cattle.
There are six trace minerals (microminerals) that are important in a cow’s diet: copper (Cu), iodine (I), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). Each plays a significant role in the systems of your animals, and your herd can be negatively impacted if they have too little of these nutrients.
A deficiency can lead to a host of problems, say experts at the Noble Research Institute—an Oklahoma-based organization of authorities in science, farming and agriculture who help solve challenges faced by farmers and ranchers.
Chief among those problems are a decreased intake and gain, a lessened libido, lower fertility, retained placentas—when the placenta, or part of the placenta, doesn’t deliver after a calf has delivered—as well as abortions and stillbirths, low birth weights, and poor calf performance. All of these unfortunate outcomes impact your bottom line.
Experts say it’s easier and more cost-effective to proactively manage your cattle to prevent these deficiencies, rather than trying to isolate production problems caused by mineral shortfalls after the fact. Sufficient mineral nutrition shouldn’t be discounted because you’ll pay for it one way or the other. Authorities recommend providing your herd with a complete mineral supplement year-round.
Deficits in trace minerals in your animals can be hard to recognize and may sometimes go undetected because the minerals are required in very small concentrations. So you should monitor your cattle’s mineral consumption on a regular basis to ensure they’re getting what they need. Directions for the mineral products you administer will specify how much your herd should receive within a given time period.
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