Do you know the Mineral Status of your Herd?

Minerals play an important role in the overall health and performance of your herd but are often overlooked.

Young growing animals along with dry, freshly calved and high yielding cows are the animals in your herd which are most likely to be deficient.

To assess the mineral status of your herd, take an overall look at the general health of your herd, common issues within your herd which may be attributed to insufficient vitamins and minerals include:

• Milk Fever
• Retained Placenta
• Reduced Fertility
• Lameness
• Poor Rumen Function
• Licking or Drinking Urine
• Discolouration of Coat

If you think you have a problem, then first look at mineral availability across the farm.  What minerals are deficient or locked into your soil?

Secondly look at taking some blood & tissue samples from animals within the herd to determine what is actually happening within the herd. This can be carried out by your vet.

Finally what minerals are available through the forage available on farm.  This can be done via taking a sample, just like taking a silage sample, but asking for a mineral analysis.  This can be for one specific mineral, or across a broad range of minerals.  We can arrange for this to be done independently for you.

Once you have all this information we can determine if a general mineral product will be sufficient or if a bespoke mineral package is needed.  Sometimes bespoke can work out cheaper because you are only targeting exactly what is needed.

We can supply bespoke mineral packages tailored to your requirements either included in your concentrates, blends or straights or un-mineralised feed options with your bespoke minerals fed through a feed wagon.  We have several mineral manufacturers who are able to supply bespoke minerals.  If you would like a quote for your existing mineral, send me a photo of the label and I will obtain quotes on our behalf.

Feeding the correct level of vitamins and minerals will not cure all your herd health problems but can go some way towards mitigating the problems.

If you would like to discuss your mineral requirements, please contact Louise Cox on 07943 684215
or e-mail louise@dblbuyinggroup.co.uk