Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Market report for 6th and 7th June 2018 Wednesday Fat Sale head 183. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 8 bulls, 235 cows.

Even though Wednesdays yarding consisted of less head, good quality and heavier weights saw good results with an overall improvement of 26 cents in the yard, average to 255 cents. Only a hand full of bullocks were sold with a per head rise of $400. Half the number of heifers averaged heavier selling to firm demand. Steers averaged slightly lighter but also sold to firm demand. Vealer numbers were also halved and this is where the quality and weights were most noticeable, with a top price 10 cents up on last week and a per head lift of $130. 5 bullocks made to 277.6, up 3 and averaged 271. 15 heifers made to 290.2, up 8 and averaged 204, firm. 23 steers made to 289.2, firm and averaged 239.7, firm. 124 veal made to 352.2, up 10 and averaged 269, up 27. Thursday saw similar results with demand lifted due to less numbers. 8 bulls topped out at 237.2, up 20 cents and averaged 225.8. Whilst 235 cows reached 259.6, up 31 with the cow average lifting 15 cents to 166.2. A yard average 16 cents better at 169.6.

Vealers 1 AngX 1 Lim 1 Char 1 LimX 1 Lim 1 Ang Bullocks 1 Char 4 Ang Steers 1 Ang 2 Char Heifer 1 SimX P Schroen, Bunyip Export Cows and Heifers 2 Ang Batty & Ferguson, Buln East 480 1 Ang Latrobe Park Angus, Morwell 470 1 R/Ang A&M Bolton P/L, T/gon 490 3 Santa R&J Reeves, Nambrok 588 1 M/G J&M Mascadri, Drouin Sth 650 Dairy Cows 1 Frn S Allen, Drouin Sth 690 1 Frn P&G Wildes, Yannathan 610 1 Frn S&L Finger, Yannathan 665 5 Frn MPH Farming, Labertouche 700 1 Frn M&A Jarvis, Cloverlea 735 Bullock 1 Ang Bulls 2 Lim 1 Char 1 Ang 1 Hfd

W&T Waren, Denison C Pharaoh, Labertouche P Schroen, Bunyip M Nottage, Buln Buln J Dunne, Churchill B Goodall, Narracan

Procott, Drouin 615 Rural Air Service, Warragul 566

N Laukens, Glengarry Procott, Drouin Latrobe Park Angus, Morwell 745

S&A Crestani, Neerim 608 237.2 1440 R&J Reeves, Nambrok 845 233.6 1973 Latrobe Park Angus, Morwell 920 228.2 2099 R&J Pretty, Jindivick 990 218.6 2164

1. Gibbon, 2. SEJ, 3.

Landmark, 4. Elders, 5. Scotts.

325 380 390 365 370 285

510 467

540

352.2 343.2 340.2 332.0 318.6 275.0

277.6 269.2

289.2 280.0

290.2

259.6 259.6 240.0 215.0 194.6

198.0 186.0 183.6 181.6 180.2

250.0

1144 1305 1326 1211 1178 783

1707 1523

1474 1309

1567

1246 1220 1176 1264 1264

1366 1134 1220 1271 1324

1875

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 long-term 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.