UNDERSTANDING THE CRITICAL ROLE OF MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION FOR THE TRANSITIONING DAIRY COW
Transition is a pivotal phase in a dairy cow’s production cycle. During this period, cows undergo significant physiological changes, including increased metabolic demands and adjustments in nutrient requirements. A balanced diet, including macro minerals and essential trace elements, during transition is essential for optimal health, milk production, and reproductive performance later in the spring. Mineral […]
RECOGNISING A DYSFUNCTIONAL RUMEN IN THE TRANSITIONING DAIRY COW
The importance of a well-functioning rumen for transition is especially emphasised in New Zealand’s diverse climatic and grazing conditions. Due to our reliance on a majority pasture-based system, transition diets experience a massive shift in composition as they move into high-energy spring grasses. Modern grass cultivars are the least obvious yet often the most potent […]
UNDERSTANDING THE CRITICAL ROLE OF MACRO MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION FOR THE TRANSITIONING DAIRY COW
Transitioning dairy cows experience heightened metabolic activity and nutrient demands, making adequate mineral supplementation imperative for supporting their health and performance. You know your springers need a correctly balanced combination of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium supplementation during this time, and that the exact requirements will be very much affected by the makeup of the […]
HOW TRACE ELEMENTS IMPACT REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE
How trace elements impact reproductive performance It’s widely understood that mineral supplementation plays an important role in mating and pregnancy success, and a lot of research has shown the key trace elements involved to be cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc. But how do these trace elements interact within the body to culminate […]
MINERAL DEFICIENCY DIRECTLY RELATED TO EMPTY RATES
Successfully carrying the foetus through to full term is quite a balancing act. Maintaining a successful pregnancy requires the correct level of energy, and protein, as well as a quality source of carbohydrates. In the case of a ruminant, this means good-quality fibre. Also required is a correctly balanced ratio of minerals and vitamins. These are all critical factors in maintaining the very tightly balanced ratio of hormones required in early pregnancy.