Page 18 - MWC 10-6-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · October 6, 2022 · P18
What is the real cost of mineral supplementation?

By Dr. Katie VanValin, Assistant Professor Beef Nutrition, University of Kentucky
For some management to treat a few more calves definition is a
practices calculating the this time around. Of course, mineral sup-
return on investment is there are several reasons we plement that
straightforward. Unfortu- would see lower pregnan- provides all
nately, determining the cost cy rates or higher pull rates the required
vs. benefit of mineral sup- from one year to the next, and minerals that
plementation is not always we shouldn’t always blame it need to be
clear. This is why it seems on the mineral. However, en- supplemented
when input costs go up, the suring the herd is protected in adequate
mineral is one of the things against mineral deficiencies amounts to
that can be easy to cut out or is a simple practice in a busi- prevent min-
replace with a less expensive, ness where so much is out- eral deficien-
lower quality option. The side of our control. cies without
problem is that early signs Think about the mineral over-supple- nine minerals that also re-
of mineral deficiencies can program as a good insurance mentation. I like to tell peo- quire supplementation. Even
be hard to identify and often policy. The problem is that ple when it comes to a miner- when supplementing with a
go unnoticed. Eventually, in many of our common feed- al program, pay for what you trace-mineralized block, we
cases of severe mineral de- stuffs are deficient in one or need but not for what you do still miss three or more min-
ficiency, producers could see more minerals. Table 1 shows not need. erals altogether. Additional-
widespread issues through- the mineral requirements for Minerals that typically ly, these products are 95-99%
out the herd that has us mak- a lactating cow and typical require supplementation in- salt, meaning the concentra-
ing phone calls to our veteri- mineral concentrations for clude calcium, phosphorus, tions of the other minerals
narian. But those early and common feedstuffs for select magnesium, sodium, cobalt, are so low that cattle are still
often sub-clinical deficiencies minerals. copper, iodine, manganese, susceptible to mineral defi-
can also eat away at perfor- Failure to provide a good selenium, and zinc. Howev- ciencies. Some mineral sup-
mance, productivity, and, yes, quality mineral supplement er, if our mineral program plements will also include a
profitability. Sub-clinical de- leaves the herd susceptible to consists of only a white salt source of iron, which makes
ficiencies might look like a developing mineral deficien- block, we are only supple- the product red. Iron is one
few more open cows this year cies. So, what is a good qual- menting sodium and chlo- mineral that is abundant in
compared to last or needing ity mineral supplement? My ride and forgetting the other continued on page 20