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How Mineral Nutrition Impacts Health and Reproduction in Beef Herds

The beef breeder is the powerhouse of the herd, she is responsible for raising a calf each year. However, without all the tools in the tool belt, breeders can’t get the job done, or they have reduced productivity. Trace minerals are vital to the reproductive performance of Beef herds. So even though they are a small inclusion into the diet of cattle herds, minerals pack a big punch, with deficiencies causing a reduction in production of up to 20-30%. The impact of mineral supplementation is just as important as protein and energy and can often be the reason for poor breeder productivity. Throughout the annual cycle, forage is the primary source of trace mineral supply to grazing cattle, but concentrations vary depending on factors such as, soil type and mineral level, quality of the feed, moisture content and quantity of feed available. To read all about Protein and energy supplementation click here (link). 


Minerals are typically categorised into macro (Ca, P, NaCl and Mg) and trace elements (Cu, Co, Se, Mn, I, Fe, Mo & Cr) depending on the quantities needed. Trace minerals are those elements existing in natural and disturbed environments in small amounts, with excessive amounts causing mineral imbalance and possible toxicity. Trace minerals are required by cattle for the role they play in the production of hormones, enzyme activity, tissue synthesis, energy productions and collagen formation. Even short periods of deficiency can cause significant physiological changes. Embryonic development, post-partum recovery and overall fertility can be impaired in females with a reduction in quality and quantity of milk production. Male animals may have reduced libido and changes in sperm quality and quantity. 

Effect of Trace minerals on productive performance

Copper

Copper is essential for mineral health in all ruminants and can be a common deficiency in grazing animals. Copper is an important component in the formation of 30 enzyme systems, including those involved in connective tissue, heart function, red cell/ blood formulation and iron absorption. Young growing stock and lactating animals are at greater risk of copper deficiency. 


Signs of Copper Deficiency 

  • Poor growth in young stock 
  • Discolouration in hair of animals 
  • Infertility 
  • Impaired placenta 
  • Reduced immune function/increase bacterial infections.

Cobalt 

Cobalt in the primary building block of Vitamin B12. The Rumen microbes have the unique ability to synthesis vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is vitally important in the energy metabolism of rumen microbes and the animal. Cobalt and the synthesis of Vitamin B12 is essential to produce propionate, a volatile fatty acid used in both beef and dairy animals to support high levels of weight gain and milk production. 



Typical areas subject to cobalt deficiency are coastal sand soils and high rainfall granite regions in Queensland and New South Wales. 


Signs of Cobalt Deficiency 

  • Ill-thrift in young stock 
  • Anorexia
  • Infections 
  • Reduced parasite resistance 
  • Increased degree of ketosis.

Selenium 

Selenium and Vitamin E have independent but complementary roles as antioxidants and are essential elements for animals. Selenium status of pastures is dependent on soil selenium concentration. One of the major effects caused by selenium deficiency is retained placentas after birth and low fertility rates. Increases in selenium during joining has seen to reduce the rate of embryo death during the first month of gestation. The reduction in embryo death 


Signs of Selenium Deficiency 

  • Suboptimal milk production
  • Suboptimal fertility in adult cattle
  • Retained foetal membranes (RFM)
  • Mastitis
  • Premature, weak calves, perinatal death and abortions.
  • Immune disfunction 
  • White muscle disease and muscular dystrophy in young cattle.

Manganese 

Manganese is required for proper skeletal development in young animals and normal reproductive performance in adult. Manganese is necessary for normal fertility rate in cattle and feeding low manganese rations depresses conception rates. Impaired reproduction, increased number of services (from bull) required for conceptions, increased days to first oestrus and reduced calf rates are all results of manganese reduced diets. Manganese is an important component of the production in cholesterol. Cholesterol is necessary to produce progesterone, which impacts the onset of oestrus and delays re-conception rates when progesterone production is reduced. 


Signs of Manganese Deficiency 

  • Reduced Conception rates
  • Increased number or servings 
  • Increased an-oestrus time 
  • Reduced calf rates 
  • Deformation in bones and cartilage. 

Zinc 

Zinc is a vital element in the sexual maturation and reproductive performance of livestock species. Zinc deficiency has been tied to multiple reproductive disorders in both male and female animals. 


Zinc is critical for sperm health and male fertility in cattle. It is involved in every aspect, from sperm production to fertilisation. Supplementary zinc has seen to increase semen volume, levels of live sperm and sperm motility when compared to non-supplemented animals. 


In female reproductive health, Zinc influences the maturation of oocytes (predevelopment of eggs) fertilizations, and embryonic and placental development. 



Signs of Zinc Deficiency 


  • Skin lesions 
  • Impaired growth 
  • Increased infection 
  • Ill-thrift 
  • White patches of hair 
  • Hair loss 


By using a supplement such as our Fertility Plus or Beef Phosphomix you can provide the herd with a boost of vitamins and minerals as well as high levels of protein and energy through protein meals. It contains high levels of Phosphorous and has an unmatched vitamin/mineral content which is formulated to improve conception rates, herd health and eliminate nutritional deficiencies. The quality protein meals in both the Beef Phosphomix and Fertility Plus help to increase milk production which could see an extra weight gain of 0.1kg / head / day in a weaner, which can equate to an extra 25kg for an 8 month old weaner.


It includes organic minerals in the form of “Bioplex High Five” which is highly absorbed by the animal and provides high levels of Cobalt, Copper, Manganese, Selenium and Zinc, which greatly enhance breeder fertility and herd health.

Understanding and mitigating the risks of Pimelea.

September 2, 2024
With the perfect storm of events this winter, the pimelea growth has skyrocketed. Like the conditions seen in 2021 and 2022, late winter rainfall, followed by cold weather and limited tropical pasture growth has resulted in increased pimelea growth.  Pimelea is a native plant to Australia and New Zealand, with 150 identified species, of 110 are endemic to Australia. Of the species found around Australia, a small number (4) are associated with poisoning in cattle. P. elongata P. simplex subsp. continua P. simplex subsp. simplex P. trichostachya
A herd of brown cows standing in a field looking at the camera

Protein for Pastures

April 18, 2024
Widespread summer rainfall has created a great pasture base for many producers going into winter. While this pasture base allows our producers to reduce the need to purchase hay or substitute feed, the quality of the pasture in winter will decline and will become a limiting factor to production. Understanding that diet quality effects passage rate in the rumen and therefore pasture intake is key to creating an effective supplement program, particularly during winter. Pasture quantity and quality are key drivers of production. As the winter months creep forward, nutrient density in pastures change, primarily associated with plant maturity. As grasses reach maturity, phase 4 or when seed head has lost all seeds, these plants are both low in protein and energy. During this time, it is important to assess grasses and provide stock with adequate protein and energy to prevent weight loss and maintain production. As plants mature and become more lignified, they become harder to digest. Due to this reduction in digestibility of plants, the movement in the rumen in slower and ‘gut fill’ increases. As a result, the animal is unable to consume the required pasture intake to meet daily requirements. Typically, tropical grasses, during winter have a Crude protein and metabolisable energy level of 6% and 5 MJ respectively. At this level, cattle cannot consume enough pasture to meet requirements, with particular emphasis on breeding stock with higher maintenance requirements due to pregnancy or lactation. Using supplements with high protein and mineral can allow cattle to digest dry pastures and provide supplementary protein for production.

Sulphur for Sorghum

February 21, 2024
Summer forage crops are a great source of feed and increases animal performance with excellent returns. As with other forage crops, the young green leaf and shoots of sorghum are the most digestible and initially have the highest feed value however sorghum has a toxic component in the plant when young, immature, and fast growing. Prussic acid poisoning has been recognised for many years in cattle grazing forage sorghum crops. There are many factors that influence the incidence of Prussic Acid poisoning, and the great news is, it’s preventable through management and nutritional supplements.
a herd of cows standing in a dry grass field

Phosphorus for Profit

May 5, 2023
Winter supplements in Northern Australia are focused towards supplying increased protein where grasses are lacking. This is by far one of the most important parts of supplements in winter and a key component of maintaining breeder weights or improving growing animal weight gains. One of the biggest myths is; “Cattle cannot absorb phosphorus during the dry season”, this simply is not true. The factor of the most limiting nutrient is the biggest determination of how well a nutrient is absorbed. Dry season supplements address protein and energy deficiencies, due to these nutrients being the most limiting in dry mature pastures. Once these issues have been addressed, other nutrients become limiting, and the need of these nutrients presents itself. Phosphorus in the dry season is the third most limiting nutrient so the need for phosphorus becomes apparent when protein and energy deficiencies are met through supplementation providing urea.

Mulga Supplementation

April 23, 2023
Mulga provides a valuable feed source for stock, particularly through dry periods or drought. Mulga land types extend over areas of New South Wales and Queensland rangelands covering an impressive 20% of Australia’s landmass. Mulga provides supplementary feed to low quality pasture due to the mulga leaf retaining its nutritive value where grasses energy and protein level decline as they mature and die off. It is always important to consider the nutritional requirements for your stock and how to best meet these requirements.  Important considerations when feeding mulga are the common deficiencies found in the plant and how supplements can counteract these problems and improve production. Stock can do very well on mulga; however, mulga has a low digestibility and much of the protein is bound by tannins.

Winter Protein Supplementation

April 4, 2023
Understanding that diet quality effects passage rate in the rumen and therefore pasture intake is key to creating an effective supplement program, particularly during winter. With the current season being drier than usual and many parts of Queensland and Northern New South Wales recording lower than average summer rain falls, it is time to start thinking about supplementation during Autumn and Winter. Pasture quantity and quality are key drivers of production. As the winter months creep forward, nutrient density in pastures change, primarily associated with plant maturity. As grasses reach maturity, phase 4 or when seed head has lost all seeds, these plants are both low in protein and energy. During this time, it is important to assess grasses and provide stock with adequate protein and energy to prevent weight loss and maintain production.  As plants mature and become more lignified, they become harder to digest. Due to this reduction in digestibility of plants, the movement in the rumen in slower and ‘gut fill’ increases. As a result, the animal is unable to consume the required pasture intake to meet daily requirements. Typically, tropical grasses, during winter have a Crude protein and metabolisable energy level of 6% and 5 MJ respectively. At this level, cattle can not consume enough pasture to meet requirements, with particular emphasis on breeding stock with higher maintenance requirements due to pregnancy or lactation.
two cows grazing in a field one brown and one black

Are You Weaning Ready?

March 29, 2023
Dry autumn forecast . The Bureau of Meteorology suggests that the coming months will be drier and hotter than usual across most of Australia from the recent long-term autumn 2023 forecast. Warmer than usual daytime temperatures and drier areas emerging in some parts of Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, weaning and early weaning supplement strategies may prove an advantage before winter descends.  Early weaning is often defined by weaning calves at a younger age than ‘normal’ practice. In Queensland, the ‘normal’ range of weaning is between 7-8 months, the range does extend either way dependent on environment. In extreme cases, early weaning (without milk replacer) can be performed safely and effectively down to 4-6 weeks of age, although calves that have reached 3-4 months are considerably easier to feed and manage. The main reason behind early weaning is the proactive management of breeding herds for improved productivity or due to feed scarcity. Pregnancy and lactation are a period in a cow’s reproductive cycle that causes extreme metabolic strain and can have drastic consequences on body condition, pregnancy rates, long term calf performance and possible deaths. The feed requirement for a cow with calf at foot are 50-65% higher than a dry cow, considerable damage to pastures can occur as a result of high forage demand. All calves are born with an underdeveloped rumen, and this continues to stay premature until calves come of an age where they start to forage. During the first few months, the rumen gradually develops, and rate of development depends on the nutrition, condition, and supply of milk from the cow and available feed in the paddock. Typically, calves can be functioning as normal ruminants between 3-6 months of age. Early weaned calves may not have a completely functioning rumen and most of their digestive tract functions largely like a monogastric animal (e.g., pigs), depending mainly on the abomasum and fourth stomach acting as the main digestive chambers. If a calf is old enough to be weaned from milk, a grain-based diet which can be readily digested should be provided as the main source of nutrition, as should hay/roughage to ensure the rumen continues to develop normally.
a cow and calf standing in a grassy field

Kidman Springs Phosphorus Supplementation Trial Demonstrates > 300% ROI

December 8, 2022
It is well documented that much of northern Australia is phosphorus (P) deficient and that P is required for almost every vital bodily function in cattle. However, supplement sales figures and industry feedback indicates that the majority of northern properties in P deficient areas are not supplementing their cattle with P over the wet season. Current thinking is that producers must not believe that they will get a good enough return feeding a P supplement to justify the expense and hassle of feeding supplement over the wet season. Past studies have shown that P supplementation increases growth, however, there have been few studies that have found a significant improvement in reproductive performance from P supplementation in northern Australia and quantified the benefit. This may be a reason why adoption has been so low.  A trial commenced in 2014 at the Victoria River Research Station, Kidman Springs, to quantify the benefits of P supplementation. This trial will provide producers in P deficient areas with definitive data on the effects of supplementing females with P so that they are able to make better informed supplementation decisions. Brahman heifers born in 2014 were randomly allocated to either a +P (where phosphorus was supplied in the supplement) or –P (where phosphorus was not included in the supplement) treatment and grazed in neighbouring paddocks that were tested as acutely P deficient. Treatments swap paddocks in May each year to minimise paddock effects. Treatments are managed exactly the same year round, with the exception that their loose lick supplements either contain P (+P) or do not (-P). Composition of lick fed to each treatment can be seen in Table 1. Note: Soil test Colwell P levels: Acutely deficient: ≤4mg P/kg | Deficient: 5mg P/kg | Marginal: 6-8mg P/kg

Mulga- Your Stock, Your Supplement - With Clynt Johnstone

December 8, 2022
Future Beef- Case study on the effectiveness of the right supplement on mulga country.

Pastures for Horses

December 8, 2022
DPI NSW- A good pasture will meet the nutritional needs of most horses including brood and lactating mares and growing foals, although working horses may require some supplementation.
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