Dry cow minerals that go to work, not to waste

Successful transition from the dry period into lactation is one of the most crucial stages in a dairy cow’s production cycle, as it will have a direct impact on milk production, cow health and reproductive performance during the subsequent lactation.

Improper mineral supply can have major consequences for the health and productivity of dairy cattle and, as a result, comes at a high cost.

Minerals play an important role in a successful dry cow programme. However, they are often overlooked in a dry cow diet in terms of both quality and quantity.

It is important to note that the mineral status of our forages can vary significantly. A mineral analysis is the only accurate way to know the mineral status of your forage and will allow you to make an informed choice of an appropriate mineral supplement.

Mineral labels can be difficult to interpret, and you may not be fully aware of what minerals are being supplied. To ensure the cow’s full mineral requirements are being met, ask your supplier what the daily mineral supply is, as well as what form the minerals are in.

Minerals play an important role in a successful dry cow programme

On many farms throughout the country, farmers are using mineral supplements containing inorganic trace minerals, such as sodium selenite and copper sulphate. However, this form of trace mineral is not what is supplied by plants in nature, and therefore not what the animal has evolved to use.

The animal cannot store inorganic minerals and, therefore, do not allow mineral reserves to be built up for times of stress, such as calving or disease. While the soil is rich in inorganic minerals, animals rely on plants to take up these minerals and convert them into an organic form that can then be used and stored by livestock when grazing.

Trace minerals such as the Bioplex® range of chelated organic trace minerals copper and zinc and Sel-Plex®, an organic form of selenium from Alltech, closely resemble the form in which these minerals are supplied to the animal in nature.

Also Read: Pre-calving mineral requirements: Make your dry cow mineral count

Feeding these superior-quality mineral forms leads to increased bioavailability and better mineral absorption by your cows. The more minerals taken up and utilised, the less waste mineral is excreted.

These superior minerals help support the cow’s immune system, offering greater protection from metabolic diseases and supporting udder health and reproductive function, delivering improved cow performance.

Why include Bioplex and Sel-Plex?

Feeding Bioplex and Sel-Plex minerals has also been shown to reduce age at calving by 26 days for first-lactation heifers whose dams were fed these minerals during the dry cow period, compared to those whose dams were fed a control (Figure 1).

Using proven technologies as part of a dry cow nutrition programme generates a greater return on investment, benefitting both cow performance and farm profitability.