What are the goals for your herd for this year and next year? If reducing lameness, producing more milk solids per cow, avoiding somatic cell count (SCC) penalties and building your cows’ trace mineral status to prepare for next season are your goals, you might consider a performance mineral programme for your herd
The critical events associated with a dairy cow’s lactation cycle are calving and transition, peak mastitis incidence, peak milk production, rebreeding/ conception and early lameness. One of the best ways to ensure performance during these periods is to provide a consistent and regular daily intake of essential bioavailable trace minerals. This by far outweighs the “feast and famine” approach of loading up on minerals for short periods and following with a period of no supplementation (Figure 1).
Jackie Tucker is the commercial executive at Chemuniqué