Take care of animals in winter

When the final autumn flush of lush grass passes, and our lifestyle stocks’ coats change from the lustre of the summer coat to a thickened woolly coat that looks dull, animals are in preparation for winter.

Many clients turn their attention to wanting a vitamin or mineral “shot” that will perk up their animals. This is often an opening conversation with their veterinarian.

It is no coincidence in winter that the drop in pasture quality and reduced mineral availability to the plant from the soil, results in a nadir (low point) of trace elements to the animals. It is a good idea, particularly, in the volcanic soils surrounding the

Tauranga area to provide extra supplementation to the animals in vitamin B12 (cobalt) and selenium.

Katikati fares a little better due to lesser ash showers from Taupo¯, but nevertheless autumn is a good time to test animals’ blood or liver to find out.

Copper is a trace mineral that is very farm dependent and is hard to make a general recommendation.

As local vets, we can give guidance, but it is a particular trace mineral that one needs to be sure of before supplementing unnecessarily.

When it involves cattle, magnesium (a macro-element) supplementation is important for pregnant dairy and beef stock — the grasses in peak lactation in spring are always marginal for lactation.

There are lesser-known minerals such as zinc, chromium, iodine, etc but are only an issue in high-performing systems or with unique feeds other than pasture.

Autumn is a good time to test to work out the levels of sufficiency in your livestock.

We can plan and make recommendations on cost-effective supplementation.