Mineral Supplements - Support Data
Why mineral (trace element) and vitamin supplementation is essential in NZ:
- There is a group of 15 elements considered essential for good health and productivity.
- Four are deficient in soils in many areas of NZ - selenium, copper, cobalt and iodine.
- Vitamins and trace elements are linked to the body's manufacture and use of enzymes and hormones.
- The body needs the enzymes and hormones for an efficient metabolism, disease resistance, detoxification, growth, reproduction, digestion and feed-energy conversion.
- Any deficiency of the above factors compromises health and can lead to subclinical (not apparent) symptoms such as poor health, stress and reduced productivity.
- Severe deficiencies of vitamins and trace elements can lead to clinical symptoms of various diseases.
The missing trace elements (minerals) and their symptons:
Selenium - linked to Vitamin E deficiency, weakened immune system, stress and white muscle disease in calves and sheep. Poor fertility and conception rates, and higher incidence of embryonic deaths, increase in somatic cell counts and mastitis.
Copper - linked to intermittent scouring, light tinge to coat and around eyes, poor feed conversion, higher empty rate in cows, weak bones in growing animals.
Cobalt - helps in formation of vitamin B12 stored in liver. Cobalt is linked to poor growth rates, rough and bleached coat, scouring, aneamia and poor milk production.
Zinc - protects from facial eczema and important to enzymes effecting protein synthesis and immunity. As well as f.e. resistance, zinc reduces incidence of certain lameness conditions and can lower somatic cell counts.
Iodine - involved in formation of thyroid hormones having impact on development of foetus, as well as protein and energy production. Deficiency symptoms include goitre, blindness, hairlessness, weakor stillborn lambs andcalves. Older stock have depressed wool and milk production, and reproduction.
Drenching - the preferred option for vitamin and trace element boosts:
There is more accuracy in giving trace elements and vitamins through drenching systems:
- Daily or regular drenching ensures all stock get the required level of supplementation.
- Enables daily intake levels to be adjusted to suit seasonal and physiological demands.
- Wastage and the potential for toxicity is reduced or minimised.
- Consistent dosage despite varying feed intake during extreme conditions (as in heavy rain or drought).
Reduced risks of toxicity
The risk of toxic doses is minimised in a finely chelated formulation:
- Vetpack mineral formulations are in chelated form - easily absorbed and effective.
- The potentially toxic elements - copper and selenium - can be monitored in consultation with your veterinarian.
- When monitoring is required, the veterinarian will likely measure copper and selenium levels in the blood or liver twice a year, usually within a chosen group of animals.
Reminder
- Some trace elements are potentially toxic, especially selenium and copper, and instructions for their use should be followed carefully as per the prescribing Veterinarian's recommendations.
- Levels of these elements in herbage can change with different fertiliser applications, different seasons and variations within seasons, such as rainfall.
- Therefore Vetapk recommends you consult your local Veterinarian to monitor levels of selenium and copper in the blood or liver at least twice a year to assess any risk of toxicity and that levels are adequate to maintain high productivity and good stock health.
The Vetpak advantage
- Vetpak offers ready-to-use formulations of trace element and vitamin supplements.
- Vetpak mineral and vitamin supplements are designed to provide a balance of minerals and vitamins that is essential to maintaining good health.
- They comprise a blend of finely chelated minerals and stable water soluble vitamins.
- Vetpak mineral supplementation provides the elements selenium, copper, cobalt, zinc and iodine.
- Vetpak vitamin supplementation provides the vitamins A, D3 & E.
- Vetpak ready-to-use (RTU) mineral and vitamin formulations come in two combinations to allow for either a daily drench or the option of a 3-weekly drench programme.
