| Livestock
Careful mineral management
needed at turnout
Producers are being warned to pay close attention to their livestock’s mineral
requirements, as animals are turned out to grass, following an incredibly wet
six month period which has left grassland in poor condition in many areas of
the country.
igh winter rainfall has caused
increased nutrient leaching and
generally left soils in poor
shape,” says Simon Allen,
senior lecturer in crop
protection and agronomy at
Harper Adams. It’s becoming apparent that
plants have lost nutrients, and as a result, grass
is likely to be more unbalanced as a feed than
usual.
“There’s a heightened risk that grass could
be lacking in essential minerals as we don’t
know how many nutrients have been naturally
replaced, or the level of soil mineralisation that
will have occurred.”
Additionally, wet conditions may have
caused damage to plant root structure, which is
fundamental for nutrient uptake, explains
Simon.
“While localised poaching will be obvious,
surface compaction is likely to be widespread,
causing serious damage beneath the surface at
the root zone. The likelihood of water logging
will also lead to anaerobic conditions, which will
further compromise the plants ability to uptake
essential nutrients.”
Another important consideration is the soil
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42 | Farming Monthly | April 2016
pH adds Simon. “A lot of grassland is acidic
and desperately short of lime at the best of
times. A wet winter makes this problem worse,
and if soil pH is wrong, the nutrient store will be
locked up and unavailable to the plant.”
With experts suggesting that grassland has
really suffered from high rainfall, Steve Elliott,
global director of Mineral Management at
Alltech, reiterates the importance of balancing
its mineral content to maintain optimum animal
health and productivity.
“Ensuring the correct balance of minerals
across the diet is essential if livestock is to
perform well at grass. Failure to achieve this will
result in production drops, not only noticeably
in yield, but also in reduced fertility.
The best source of mineral supplement is an
organic form explains Steve. “A chelated form,
as provided in Alltech’s Bioplex® range,
mimics the natural form of trace minerals and is
therefore more efficiently absorbed, stored and
utilised by the animal.
“Whether added to a concentrate ration,
combined with a buffer feed, or supplemented
independently, careful mineral management will
be an important factor in maintaining optimum
health and productivity this spring.”
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