How to correctly supplement beef cattle with minerals
© Tim Scrivener Breed, environment, production level and liveweight all influence which minerals – and how much – a beef animal needs to support health and performance.
The list is extensive and likely to include 15 or more different types: from macro-minerals such as calcium, phosphorous and magnesium, to trace elements including cobalt, iodine and selenium.
Independent ruminant nutritionist Hefin Richards, of Rumenation Nutrition Consultancy, says that while they are needed for maintenance, production, pregnancy and growth, the balance can easily be tipped from base requirements to toxic levels when background sources (grazed and ensiled forages, concentrates and moist feeds) are overlooked.
“In some cases, feeding above base requirement shows improved performance. However, feeding significantly above requirement may lead to excretion and also to toxicity, reduced performance or premature death,” he warns. “This is a significant risk with trace elements: requirements are published alongside maximum permitted levels.”
Hefin gives guidance on how under- and oversupplementation in beef cattle can be avoided.
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1. Consider farm-specific interactions
Grazed and ensiled forages can have farm-specific deficiencies or impaired absorption because of interactions and antagonism between background mineral sources.
For example, raising soil pH by applying lime may reduce the availability and uptake of manganese and cobalt. A manganese deficiency during late pregnancy can lead to bone deformity in calves.
Other well-documented interactions include potassium and magnesium.
This is a particular risk for suckler cows at grass in spring and autumn: cattle need magnesium daily, yet rapid grass growth leads to a luxury uptake of potassium which limits magnesium availability.
This leads to potentially fatal hypomagnesaemia, commonly known as “staggers”.
Reseeding can also alter an animal’s mineral requirements.
2. Switching diets can be a trigger point
When cattle move from a grass or legume diet to cereal-based forages, calcium supplementation is critical. It can be supplied easily and cheaply in the form of limestone flour (calcium carbonate).
Forages such as maize, wholecrop cereals or straw tend to have very low mineral levels, so cattle on these diets require additional supplementation.
3. Analyse forages for minerals to establish farm status
Levels in forage vary between farms, fields and seasons. Therefore, carrying out mineral tests can be a very useful way to pick up patterns and identify any specific issues that need addressing.
For about £40/sample, it is possible to get a good indication of the status of the main feed source animals will consume.
For example, knowing that forage phosphorus levels are high can allow for significant cost savings on mineral formulation, and reduce phosphate deposition on land and in watercourses.
By carrying out a few samples every year, trends can be observed and any potential issues managed.
It is also worth testing water supplies from wells and boreholes as these often contain excessive levels of individual elements that can cause problems.
When the results are known, it enables more farm-specific advice to be sought.
4. Beware mineral toxicity
Young animals have requirements which need to be met to achieve growth and development targets, they may also be more susceptible to toxicity as a result of oversupply.
Calves and young cattle on straw and concentrate-based feeding systems are at risk of copper toxicity if excessive levels are fed.
This has been seen in cases where a dairy compound with a high copper inclusion has been fed to weaned calves for reasons of convenience and cost.
Make sure that what is being fed is suitable for the animal type.
5. How to best supplement straights and moist feeds
The mineral levels in straights and moist feeds are variable – for example, Trafford Gold contains a high level of phosphorous but a low amount of calcium.
Cereals are generally low in calcium.
Sugar beet pulp has a high calcium level because lime is used in the refining process.
Options for supplementing beef cattle with minerals
Mineralised compound feeds and blends
Rumenation Nutrition Consultancy’s Hefin Richards says these provide a reliable supply of minerals for animals receiving a target level of feed.
But to achieve this, the product must contain a suitable mineral and vitamin formulation for the class of stock being fed at a given rate.
Pre-mixes in compounds and blends are usually formulated to meet requirements for some classes of youngstock eating a certain proportion of the cake and at a certain dry matter intake.
Powdered minerals within a total mixed ration
This option allows mineral intake to be linked to total intake and provides an opportunity to fine-tune levels of a supplied product.
Ensure that the product used is fit for purpose and is fed at a rate that is in line with the requirements of the size of animals being fed. Your nutritionist will give guidance on this.
Free access blocks and licks
These are usually molassed and are also formulated to supply some energy and protein. They are convenient to use, though intakes may be variable.
They can also be a relatively costly way to supplement, says Hefin. However, he warns there also are wider health considerations.
“Licks and blocks can encourage badger activity, so they should be mounted well above the ground to minimise that risk.”
Boluses
Trace minerals are often supplied to beef animals via a bolus, particularly during the grazing season.
Combinations of copper, iodine, cobalt and selenium are typically available. They are designed to supply a steady trickle of each element, usually over a period of five to six months.
Hefin sees them as a reliable means of supplementing cattle through the grazing season if no direct feed supplementation is planned.
“Carrying out some forage mineral analysis early in the season may help with the decision-making process, avoiding excess cost and oversupply,” he advises.
Liquid minerals
These typically contain phosphorus, magnesium and trace minerals and can be administered via a water supply.
Products are formulated to meet target requirements and automatically dosed into the designated water supply for a group of cattle, such as water troughs in fields and housing.