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 SUPPLEMENTATION FOR SUCCESSFUL AUTUMN TRANSITION
The transition period, whether in autumn or spring, is the single most stressful period a cow will experience each year. Having a solid plan in place to ensure your mob has transitioned well will pay dividends throughout the season in milk production, reproduction, immunity and animal health. Supporting your autumn-calvers throughout the transition period The […]
WHAT’S SUBCLINICAL FACIAL ECZEMA COSTING YOU?
Taking a proactive stance in facial eczema management is your best defence against this devastating disease. While every dairy farmer is aware of clinical facial eczema and the potential for harm, there’s a general lack of awareness of the prevalence of subclinical facial eczema, and the harm this does to herd and farm productivity. Understanding […]
MANAGING TRACE MINERAL LEVELS IN DAIRY GOATS
Managing trace mineral levels in dairy goats As high-performance ruminants, dairy goats need specialised nutrition to have them functioning at their best. When it comes to trace mineral levels – specifically copper, zinc, selenium, iodine, and cobalt – goats have very specific requirements that differ from cattle and sheep. Managing these is crucial for optimum […]
PROTECTING AGAINST FACIAL ECZEMA WITH ZINC
Facial eczema, both clinical (symptomatic) and subclinical (non-symptomatic), is a major cause of production loss in dairy herds throughout New Zealand. Subclinical cases are thought to be 10x higher than clinical cases within the herd, which means many farmers don’t realise facial eczema is a problem until it’s too late. Facial eczema is caused by […]
MINERAL DEFICIENCIES IN SPRING PASTURE
Spring brings heavy demands for our dairy cows, with calving, peak milk, and successful mating all crucial milestones for a profitable season, and all in a climate that is becoming increasingly volatile each year. In an ideal world, our dairy herds would have access to ample amounts of high-quality pasture containing sufficient nutrients, vitamins, and […]
COW AND CALF NUTRITION INEXTRICABLY LINKED
The lead up to another calving period means the next few weeks offer an opportunity to meet the nutritional demands of your cows. Good nutrition ensures optimum levels of productivity for the cow during the coming lactation, and early nutrition for the calf during the final weeks of gestation and the first weeks of life […]