Mineral support for winter feeding

1 April 2015

Successfully transitioning your cows through calving and into lactation can have a positive effect on your entire season. Providing the right mineral support is one of the keys to achieving successful transition.

The start of calving marks the beginning of a busy time for farmers. Metabolic disorders like ill thrift and milk fever can also appear at this time, bringing the unwanted stress of juggling hospital cows to an already increased workload.

Metabolic disorders result in poorer stock performance, but they can often be avoided by paying close attention to mineral supplementation prior to calving. When cows’ mineral needs are met, they are healthier and more productive.

Getting mineral supplementation right in winter can be challenging. Cows are often away from the home farm, which makes it harder to keep a close eye on them. If they are on the home farm, they might be on a range of different crops to help meet their feed needs. In either case, ensuring that cows have access to an appropriate, palatable mineral supplement will help protect them against future animal health disorders.

SealesWinslow offers two types of easy-to-use molasses-based mineral supplementation blocks designed specifically for winter mineral support – traditional molasses blocks, and dehydrated molasses blocks from the Crystalyx range.

Molasses lick blocks are an ideal mineral delivery system on crop or pasture. They are convenient, palatable and can supply the exact minerals that your cows require. The molasses itself provides a ready source of energy for the microbes in the rumen, which helps the digestive process. Molasses also masks the taste of bitter minerals such as magnesium, which would otherwise deter consumption.

The right mineral solution for your farm depends on your past experience of animal health/metabolic issues at calving, as well as management practices and labour arrangements on your farm. If you want to continue with your existing supplementation approach – paddock or crop dusting, in-feed or in-water supplements – but also want the added benefits of a SealesWinslow molasses block, the Cattle High Magnesium Block or the Cattle Winter Crop Block are good options. Both are suitable when taking a multi-pronged approach to pre-calving magnesium supplementation and will help ensure stock receive the minerals and trace elements they need.

For a less labour intensive approach, consider using Crystalyx Dry Cow. Used according to directions, it replaces the need for dusting or inline trough use of minerals at the same time. Crystalyx Dry Cow needs to be supplied to stock for 60 days prior to calving and then throughout the colostrum period. The dehydrated molasses helps to ensure cows get the right intake, and the minerals and vitamins help to improve the general immunity of the cow. Crystalyx Dry Cow is also effective during periods of rain.

For more information on ways to use molasses blocks for mineral supplementation this winter, contact your local Technical Sales Rep.

Article supplied by SealesWinslow