C.A.H.L.
- YOUR PARTNER IN ANIMAL HEALTH
Concentrate
& Mineral Supplementation of
Drystock on Autumn Pastures
Grazed
grass is currently the cheapest feed source available for Irish beef
cattle. Acceptable live-weight gains are generally achieved on commercial
farms until mid-summer. However maintaining high levels of animal performance
at grass from August onwards, on many farms, proves problematic. As
grass growth naturally declines in the autumn, herd demand often exceeds
feed supply. Even top quality autumn pasture has a lower dry matter
digestibility (DMD), lower energy and feeding value, and lower intake
characteristics in comparison to early or mid-season grass. The reality
is that the nutritional value of autumn grass on many farms is insufficient
to support satisfactory levels of animal live-weight gain, necessitating
the need for supplementary feeding. Trials carried out at Teagasc Grange
Beef Research Centre in recent years have clearly demonstrated that
feeding concentrates at grass in the autumn period is economically beneficial.
The level of concentrate to be fed depends on grass availability. Where
grass supply is good, feeding 0.5kg of concentrate per 100kg live-weight
is recommended; and where grass is scarce, feeding 1.0kg per 100kg live-weight
is economically cost effective. It is noteworthy that these recommendations
were based on a concentrate costing £160 per tonne, and carcass
weight worth £1.70 per kilo.
Todays
swards are largely deficient in trace elements as a result of modern
farming practices. Accordingly, mineral imbalances and deficiencies
are common in Irish herds, leading to reduced animal performance. Mineral
imbalances have three forms:
(1) Non-Clinical
- Herd health and productivity are normal. Diagnosis is based on mineral
imbalance in blood, soil or herbage in the absence of health problems.
Confirmation is by absence of response to supplementation with the deficient
mineral(s). The general Teagasc recommendation is that if supplementation
is cheap, it should be fed as an insurance measure against the possibility
that non-clinical deficiency can become sub-clinical or clinical.
(2) Sub-Clinical
Imbalance - There are few or no clinical signs but productivity (fertility,
growth rate, milk yields, milk quality) is depressed in up to 50% of
the herd. A severe mineral imbalance in blood, herbage or soil is suggestive.
Confirmation is by a dramatic response in productivity to supplementation
with the deficient mineral(s).
(3) Clinical
Imbalance - Some or all of the clinical signs are present in up to 30%
or more of the herd and up to 40% of the remainder of the herd usually
have lower productivity (sub-clinical signs). Diagnosis is based on
farm history, clinical signs and, sometimes, post-mortem findings. It
is confirmed by analyses and by a dramatic response to supplementation
with a good quality mineral.
Because
they receive less supplementation, suckler herds and drystock have significantly
lower mineral status than dairy herds. To optimise performance on these
farms we recommend that all bought-in concentrate feeds contain a mineral
supplement, formulated to deliver the required level of major elements,
trace elements and vitamins in the level of concentrates being fed on
your farm. CAHL offers the Rumins Cattle/General Purpose powdered mineral,
which may be included at a fixed rate in home-mixed diets; or the convenient
Ruminlix Cattle Phos mineral block specifically designed to meet the
requirements of livestock found on Irish drystock farms. On the back
of blood, herbage or soil analyses we are in a position to offer customised
mineral mixes to meet the exact requirements found on your farm. Veterinary
prescriptions may be required.
Look no
further talk to your local CAHL representative.
