Measuring the response at home
If you decide to undertake your own on-farm analysis of any additive or supplement you should consider whether you can provide the following:
• objective assessment of pasture/crop quality (MJ ME) and quantity (kg DM/ha) throughout the trial;
• a ‘paired’ paddock on-farm trial (same conditions within paddock/plots);
• stocking rate records, stock descriptions, liveweight, fat scores, etc. prior to and at the completion of trial work;
• minimum recommended stock numbers of 15 cattle/treatment and 60 sheep depending on scale or the trial, treatment number and replication of each;
• standardised measurements such as weighing stock (weigh at same time on each day of data collection so as to minimise gut fill differences.
Feed supplements/additives to fit the need
Can you identify:
• whether there is a definite deficiency that you are aiming to overcome;
• whether the deficiency is the primary limiting factor, i.e. is it necessary to provide the animal with extra energy, protein or fibre before a medicinal product, mineral or vitamin supplement is warranted;
• if a known (diagnosed) mineral imbalance is causing herd/flock production losses on your farm.
Some definite research based supplements and additives
• Sodium and sulfur (10–12% sulfur) blocks are required by all cattle and sheep grazing forage sorghums.
• Sodium supplementation is required to maximise performance on kikuyu pasture.
• Cereal grain always needs 1% to 1.5% ground limestone (by weight of grain) to restore the Ca:P balance.
• Livestock grazing winter wheats require a 1:1 salt:magnesium oxide (CausMag) ‘free choice’ supplement.
• Magnesium oxide (MgO) supplementation to high demand lactating cows susceptible to grass tetany (Mg deficiency) will assist in preventing deaths from grass tetany. This is typically given as 60 g of MgO/hd/day on hay as a carrier (see Primefact 421, Grass tetany in cattle – treatment and prevention).
• To determine phosphorus deficiency and implement a supplementation program requires a detailed study of soil P levels, animal blood P levels and faecal P levels across both the growing and non-growing period of the pasture/ forage. Your District Livestock Officer and your Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPB) Veterinarian will work as a team to assist in P deficiency diagnosis.
• When pastures are protein deficient, mature animals can be adequately supplemented with a source of non-protein nitrogen. Seek advice to do this cost effectively.
• Monensin-based products increase weight gain and aid in bloat control but may not prevent it.
Look after livestock feed nutrients in this order:
Livestock feed nutrients order
• Beware of perceptions vs fact.
• Quantifying a result via an on-farm trial is often difficult, so seek advice if you wish to run such a trial.
Caution
• There is much ‘old’ technology that still works very well and economically.
• There is much ‘new’ technology that repackages and rebadges old technology.
• There are plenty of supplement/additive providers who will now feed your animals as part of the supply charge, but who is managing the animals?
