Dietary minerals Archives

Hoof strength problems are one area where the use of chelated minerals could make sense.

Strategic use of chelated minerals makes financial sense

Dairy Corner: There are specific cases where chelated minerals should be used in dairy diets

By Peter Vitti September 17, 2024

In the last couple of years, I’ve noticed most dairy lactation diets contain a fortified level of chelated trace minerals. When I ask dairy producers why they feed them over conventional ones, they often say they don’t know or their nutritionist thinks it’s a good idea. There is nothing technically wrong with feeding chelated trace […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

How to manage beef cow summer mineral intake

Better Bunks and Pastures: Most solutions are found with common sense and changing practices

By Peter Vitti July 23, 2024

A long time ago, I helped a producer feed loose mineral to his herd of 60 beef cows. It was at the start of summer and during their breeding season. We’d just rip open a couple of bags and pour the mineral into an old wooden crate near a full dugout of drinking water. Often, […] Read more

First-calf cows need to be able to feed their calf, continue to grow and become ready for breeding, which means they need special treatment.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Take care of first-calf beef cows after calving

Keep them separate from older cows and a different ration could make sense

By Peter Vitti April 18, 2024

Despite some market volatility, the good value of all cattle is holding for the time being. That’s a good thing because last year, many cow-calf operators bred more replacement heifers that are now calving or about to calve. Some of these producers told me they throw them into their main cowherd if they are big […] Read more

Graeme Finn’s cattle on a high-legume pasture at breeding time.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Six areas you should watch to maintain your cows’ fertility

High-quality forage and the right mineral package at the right time can set cows up for success

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan January 25, 2024

As a rancher and a senior forage specialist with Union Forage, Graeme Finn has spent much of his time looking into how feeding cattle affects their fertility. He says it was something drilled into him as a child in Australia. “My grandmother always said, ‘Feed the cattle good at breeding time,’ because that’s when you […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Cow-Calf

Providing proper mineral mix the first step to meet cattle nutrient needs

It's one thing to put it out there, but another to make sure they eat it

By Peter Vitti December 15, 2023

Many commercial cattle minerals can be fed on a free-choice basis to gestating beef cows until calving. But even the best of these products fail if cows don’t eat enough, or engorge themselves. Mineral intake problems must be corrected quickly so cows can either maintain or build a mineral (and vitamin) status which contributes to […] Read more

Zinc is an important mineral for many production reasons.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Zinc is a powerful trace mineral for cattle

From breeding to good feet it plays an important role

By Peter Vitti December 17, 2018

Recently, I was talking to a feed mill operator I occasionally do some beef nutritional work, and he told me many customers are requesting the best level of zinc added into their cattle mineral. We realize many pastures and harvested forage from this summer’s drought might likely be zinc-stressed, so we made sure to formulate […] Read more

Not all minerals are created equal. Buy a proper blend for the third trimester period.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Trace minerals directly affect unborn calves

If the cow isn’t getting sufficient minerals calf development and strength suffers

By Peter Vitti February 23, 2017

Within the next few months, there will be a lot of newborn calves on the ground. Fair- to good-quality forage is quite plentiful this year and grain is a reasonable price, so most of the cow herds I have seen across Western Canada this winter are in good body condition for calving. But one area […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Elements of a “good” winter mineral

Cow-calf mineral requirements vary with time of year

By Peter Vitti November 8, 2016

It won’t be long before most cow-calf operators will be bring their cow herd home from pasture to overwinter. They should also be shopping for a good beef cow mineral. I think of a “good” overwintering cow mineral as one that helps meet the mineral and vitamin requirements of the early- to mid-gestating beef cow […] Read more

Once a case of grass tetany presents itself, you will often have multiple cases quickly appear.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Magnesium key to prevent grass tetany

Animal Health: Chances are that if one animal goes down, others are soon to follow

By Roy Lewis September 27, 2016

Over the last few years several herds in our area have been affected with grass tetany. These herds will often have multiples cases in short order. Once clinical signs occur and cattle go down chances of recovery are very poor so treatment-wise they are a true emergency. Early in the course of the disease treatment […] Read more

Cows deficient in copper can be poor milkers, have chronic health issues, and have difficulty getting bred. But it is a condition that’s fairly easy to correct.

Cattleman’s Corner

Copper critical for pre-calving cows

It doesn’t take much to correct a deficiency so watch for symptoms

By Peter Vitti March 10, 2016

Recently, I gave a dinner presentation to a group of beef producers outlining the importance of feeding a good mineral program to pre-calving cows. Afterward, I was surprised by the number of questions about the possibility of a copper deficiency in their beef cattle. With calving season underway or soon to start, we all agreed […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

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