Assessing vitamin deficiencies

As the dry seasonal conditions lingers, the risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in sheep and cattle increase.

It is very important to provide stock with their minimum nutritional requirements to prevent deficiencies, sub optimal production, disease and death.

If dry conditions continue, deficiencies in fatsoluble vitamins, particularly Vitamins A and E are possible.

Vitamin A is obtained from carotene, a substance found only in green feeds.

Vitamin A deficiency only occurs after green feed has been absent for many months.

Deficiencies in lambs occur when they have been without green feed for a minimum of six months.

Older sheep will become deficient only after 12 months with no green feed.

As cattle have smaller stores of Vitamin A, it takes about three months without any green feed before they become deficient.

Signs of Vitamin A deficiency include night blindness and ill thrift.

Vitamin E deficiency is also attributed to a longterm lack of green feed.

Affected lambs and calves exhibit a stilted gait, shifting lameness and arched back. Wool and body growth rates are also affected.

Treatment for both Vitamin A and Vitamin E deficiencies are by supplementation via injection or drench.

This should only be considered if lambs and cattle have been lacking green feed for three to four months, or if adult sheep have been lacking green feed for more than nine months.

Calcium, phosphorous and sodium deficiency are three mineral deficiencies that may be seen during dry seasonal conditions.

Calcium deficiency most commonly occurs in diets containing a high proportion of cereal grain. The addition of agricultural limestone mixed with the ration is an effective form of prevention.

Phosphorus deficiencies occur when diets consist mainly of low quality roughage for an extended period.

The main signs of phosphorus deficiency are shifting lameness, an arched back and difficulty walking.

With extended deficiencies, stock may chew sticks, stones or bones from carcasses in paddocks in an attempt to gain their phosphorus requirements.

This then leads to a significant risk of botulism from the ingestion of bacterial spores in the decomposing tissues attached to bones.

Sodium is a major component of salt. Salt is important for the regulation of many processes in the animal’s body.

Most grains are deficient in sodium so an addition of salt to diets containing a large proportion of grain, where stock drinking water has a low salt content, is recommended to prevent deficiencies.

The addition of salt to grain diets fed to wethers and rams may also assist in the prevention of bladder stones and urinary blockages by increasing water intake.

Market report for 23rd and 24th May 2018 Wednesday Fat Sale head 344. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 12 bulls, 538 cows.

On Wednesday the fat sale saw a similar number yarded with 344 penned. Good quality head were regarded as dearer with the secondary pens easing. The only problem with this is the fact that there were a larger number in the secondary pens this week, bringing the averages back in most categories. Bullock numbers were back with very few yarded in recent weeks. Heifer numbers were back as were steers. The vealer category contained 80 extra head on last week. This week the yard average was back 6 cents to 243.6. 3 bullocks made to 270.2, firm and averaged 269.7. 10 heifers made to 236.2, back and averaged 203.8, back 25. 28 steers made to 302.6, up 4 and averaged 210. 297 veal made to 348.6, firm and averaged 251.6, back 8. There were extra cows yarded on Thursday and the result was a continuation of Wednesday with demand easing again. 12 bulls reached a top of 226.6, back 7 and the average was 191.6, back 11. Cow numbers were up, although heavy beef cows were few and far between. Cows made to 210, back 9 and the cow average eased 22 cents on the back of lighter condition in the secondary section. The yard average for Thursday was 147.9, back 23.

Vealers 1 LimX W&L Heyne, Newry 420 8 Char P Schroen, Bunyip Nth 440 1 LimX Batty & Ferguson, Buln East 405 2 Lim T&M Johnson & Son, Mt/V 405 1 Lim Malanik Farm, Trafalgar Sth 335 1 B/B W Griggs, Yarragon 320 Steer 1 M/G G Walker, Gainsborough Bullocks 2 M/G 1 S/H Heifer

1 Angus B Fullerton, Tyers Export Cows and Heifers 4 Ang H Middleton, Trafalgar 1 Ang K Simm & Sons, Trafalgar 1 Hfd P Newitt, Buln Buln 1 Ang Seaview Park, Seaview 2 Ang R&C Cole, Bega 1 Bld R Roberts, Allambee Dairy Cows 1 Frn Cuthlink & Brunt, Athlone 2 Frn M&J Winter, Warragul Sth 1 Frn M&M Briggs, Drouin 1 Frn J Ashby, Bayles 1 Frn H,H&D Spargo, Wgl Sth 1 Frn BM&S Cunningham, NNG Bullocks 1 Hfd 2 Frn 3 Frn Bull

1 Frn 2082 G Walker, Gainsborough I Kindred, Trafalgar P Newitt, Buln Buln R White, Neerim Sth N Galenkov, Neerim Sth

D&AJ Rigano, Ferndale

3. Gibbon, 4. Elders, 5. SEJ. 475

570 635

485

775 590 760 720 635 585

695 722 695 725 678 630

810 690 672

1020

348.6 1464 335.2 1474 332.0 1344 310.0 1255 308.6 1033 307.2 983

302.6 1437

270.0 1539 269.2 1709

236.2 1145

210.0 1627 210.0 1239 203.0 1542 200.0 1440 200.0 1270 200.0 1170

192.0 1334 188.2 1358 188.2 1307 187.2 1357 181.2 1228 178.6 1125

218.6 1770 213.6 1473 213.6 1434

2042 1. Scotts, 2. Landmark,