Minerals play a crucial role in keeping your cattle healthy, supporting everything from growth to reproduction. However, figuring out the right amount of dietary minerals for your herd is more complex than you might think. It’s not just about what your cow needs but also about the forage quality, the animal’s age, and even the production stage. Add to that factors like soil type, fertilizer, and rainfall, and you’ll see that ensuring your cattle get the right minerals is a balancing act.
While forages and water can provide some minerals, it’s rare for any region to always have all the minerals in the right amounts. Even if your forage seems sufficient, the balance between certain minerals can affect absorption. This underscores the importance of understanding mineral deficiencies and taking proactive steps to ensure your herd’s health. Simply offering mineral supplements is not enough; understanding what’s missing is key to empowering your herd to thrive.
There’s a common belief that cattle can instinctively seek the minerals they need, but that’s entirely true. Cattle, like people, tend to eat what they enjoy, and some necessary minerals have a bitter taste. This can lead to the consumption of vital minerals. However, with a solid settlement plan in place, you can reassure yourself that your cattle are getting what’s required for that matter, even when it’s not their favor.
The fall season can be problematic for a beef producer. As you go into it after a dry, hot summer, the entire herd may be stressed. The combination of high heat, short grass, and low water tanks can stress cattle and make them more prone to disease.
Internal parasites are a problem that every beef producer must face. They are a constant annoyance that can rob a beef operation of its productivity. They impair production by increasing maintenance energy costs, diet digestibility, and immune activity.
