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Home → Tech Link → The Vital 90

The Vital 90

The Vital 90

Issue Identification

  • The transition period is the biggest challenge to herd immunity and health
  • The highest level of veterinary interventions is in this period (80% of yearly total = €48.00 per cow) Source: Teagasc (2015)
  • Stress levels are also at their highest (for farmer and animals)
  • There is a large gap between minerals supplied from feed and those required

The factors that contribute to the above issues include:

  • Management
  • Environment
  • Nutrition

The importance of the correct mineral supplementation is well established. Proper mineral supplementation prior to calving gives easier calvings, reduces metabolic disorders and improves the health of the cow and calf.

Early Lactation Stress

Following calving, many cows fall into negative energy balance (NEB) due to the stresses of producing milk and a restricted intake capacity of the cows. Also at this time, the immune system of the cow is weakened. Dry matter intake, including supplementation, is therefore vital in order to ensure that the cow returns to an optimum health condition to prepare them for the lactation ahead and the breeding season.

Failure to administer the appropriate mineral supplemention in both the dry and post-calving period can lead to metabolic and health problems, which can worsen as time goes on.

What Minerals are Required Pre-Calving (60 days pre-calving)?

In the pre-calving transition period the objective is to minimise sub clinical and clinical milk fever. Milk fever is known as the ‘Gateway Disease’, as it leads to a number of other disorders including retained placenta, displaced abomasum and increased levels of mastitis in early lactation.

Milk fever can be prevented by feeding a good dry cow mineral, with high levels of Magnesium and Vitamin D3, along with other trace elements and vitamins that support a healthy immune system.

What Minerals are Required Post-Calving (30 days post-calving)?

In one kg of concentrate, there is typically 25g of minerals. Typically, 4-5 kg of concentrates are fed in the post calving period, along with grass and ad lib silage. This will provide approximately 100-150 g minerals, which is significantly less than the 200 – 250 g required. This gap can cause potential serious issues for the health of the herd. For the post-calving period, it is critical that calcium and magnesium are in plentiful supply in the diet in order to negate the effects of metabolic disorders. Calcium and magnesium ensure strong muscle contraction of the rumen and gastrointestinal tract. These contractions stimulate appetite and rumination, increasing dry matter intake, preventing displaced abomasum, and also prepare the animal for cycling. Calcium levels dip at calving as the cow begins milk production. It is important that blood calcium levels increase within 48 hours post calving. Concentrate supplementation will increase calcium levels in the diet although this is not always sufficient and other sources of calcium should be provided.

Trace elements such as selenium, iodine, manganese, copper, zinc all play important roles in body function and should be supplemented through the a quality post-calving mineral. The same is applicable for vitamins such A, D3 and E.

An ideal product to use is from our ImmuBoost range: ImmuBoost Fertility which is a Premium complementary molassed powdered mineral for lactating dairy and suckler cows.

***Click here to find out more about ImmuBoost Fertility***

The Vital 90 – Transition Period Summary Points

60 Days  – Pre-Calving

  • Minimise sub clinical and clinical milk fever
  • Milk fever leads to retained placentas, displaced abomasum and increased levels of mastitis in early lactation.
  • Magnesium supplementation ensures mobilisation of calcium leading to more powerful calving and improved immune function.
  • Strong immunity is achieved with antioxidants, especially selenium and vitamin E
  • Potassium to magnesium ratio in the diet of the dry cow should be between 4.5/5.0:1
  • Vitamins A and E, Copper, Selenium, Zinc, Iodine and Cobalt are all essential for the immune function of cows, colostrum quality and the health of the new-born calf

30 Days  – Post-Calving Period

  • It is critical that calcium and magnesium are in plentiful supply to reduce the effects of metabolic disorders.
  • Calcium and magnesium ensure strong muscle contraction of the rumen and gastrointestinal tract.
  • These contractions stimulate appetite and rumination, increasing DMI, helping to prevent displaced abomasum, and also prepare the animal for cycling.
  • Imbalances of major elements may cause rickets, lameness, milk fever, lambing sickness, tetany, reduced appetite and milk yield.
  • Deficiency of trace elements may cause ill thrift, abortion/placental retention, perinatal calf death, reduced immunity in calves and cattle
  • Selenium, iodine, manganese, copper and zinc all play important roles in body function and should be supplemented through a quality post-calving mineral.
  • In addition to vitamins such A, D3 and E.

Dr Michael Reid (Nutribio)