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Garlic for the Prevention of External Parasites

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:14:43 GMT

External parasites are particularly problematic in the warmer months.
High temperatures and humidity create ideal conditions for buffalo fly, ticks, and lice.
During this time, livestock can experience heavy infestations that cause irritation, stress, reduced feed intake, and lost productivity.

Managing parasites proactively in summer is critical to protecting animal welfare and maintaining growth, milk production, and overall herd performance.

MLA estimates external parasites cost the Australian cattle industry $359 million/year, with buffalo fly alone causing over $110 million in losses and $60 million in prevention costs annually.

While traditional control often relies on chemical treatments, there is growing interest in natural, feed-based solutions.

One option gaining traction is garlic (Allium sativum), and at Nutramix we proudly partner with Feedworks Australia to use FeedBuds Garlic, a scientifically backed natural additive.

What Is garlic?

Garlic is a natural source of alliin, which converts into allicin — the powerful compound that helps protect livestock from biting insects
Unlike raw garlic or generic powders, Feedbuds Garlic is standardised to ensure consistent potency of its active compounds (alliin and allicin), which are responsible for parasite deterrence.
When fed to livestock, these compounds are absorbed into the bloodstream and secreted through the skin, creating an environment less attractive to flies, ticks, and lice.

Benefits of Garlic in Livestock Nutrition

1. Natural Parasite Repellent – Proven reductions in biting flies (including buffalo fly) and ticks in cattle, sheep, and dairy herds.

2. Reduced Reliance on Chemicals – Provides a non-toxic alternative to repeated pesticide use and slows resistance development.

3. Supports Health and Immunity – Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals; contains alliin which converts to allicin, enhancing immune function.

4. Improved Comfort and Productivity – Animals are calmer, graze more, and channel energy into growth, milk production, and reproduction.

5. Environmentally Friendly – No harmful residues or milk taint reported in dairy systems.

Conclusion

Garlic as an in-feed additive is a valuable tool for parasite management in modern livestock systems.
Nutramix' full range of products is fully customisable to offer the inclusion of Garlic allowing us to provide producers with a safe, natural, and effective product that reduces parasite pressure, improves animal comfort, and supports sustainable farming.

Talk to our friendly Nutramix team today about how garlic can support your herd. We’ll help you choose the right dry season supplement to suit your animals and your production system.

How Mineral Nutrition Impacts Health and Reproduction in Beef Herds

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:44:53 GMT

The beef breeder is the powerhouse of the herd, she is responsible for raising a calf each year. However, without all the tools in the tool belt, breeders can’t get the job done, or they have reduced productivity. Trace minerals are vital to the reproductive performance of Beef herds. So even though they are a small inclusion into the diet of cattle herds, minerals pack a big punch, with deficiencies causing a reduction in production of up to 20-30%. The impact of mineral supplementation is just as important as protein and energy and can often be the reason for poor breeder productivity. Throughout the annual cycle, forage is the primary source of trace mineral supply to grazing cattle, but concentrations vary depending on factors such as, soil type and mineral level, quality of the feed, moisture content and quantity of feed available. To read all about Protein and energy supplementation click here ( link ).

Minerals are typically categorised into macro (Ca, P, NaCl and Mg) and trace elements (Cu, Co, Se, Mn, I, Fe, Mo & Cr) depending on the quantities needed. Trace minerals are those elements existing in natural and disturbed environments in small amounts, with excessive amounts causing mineral imbalance and possible toxicity. Trace minerals are required by cattle for the role they play in the production of hormones, enzyme activity, tissue synthesis, energy productions and collagen formation. Even short periods of deficiency can cause significant physiological changes. Embryonic development, post-partum recovery and overall fertility can be impaired in females with a reduction in quality and quantity of milk production. Male animals may have reduced libido and changes in sperm quality and quantity.

Effect of Trace minerals on productive performance

Copper

Copper is essential for mineral health in all ruminants and can be a common deficiency in grazing animals. Copper is an important component in the formation of 30 enzyme systems, including those involved in connective tissue, heart function, red cell/ blood formulation and iron absorption. Young growing stock and lactating animals are at greater risk of copper deficiency.

Signs of Copper Deficiency

Poor growth in young stock
Discolouration in hair of animals
Infertility
Impaired placenta
Reduced immune function/increase bacterial infections.

Cobalt

Cobalt in the primary building block of Vitamin B12. The Rumen microbes have the unique ability to synthesis vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is vitally important in the energy metabolism of rumen microbes and the animal. Cobalt and the synthesis of Vitamin B12 is essential to produce propionate, a volatile fatty acid used in both beef and dairy animals to support high levels of weight gain and milk production.

Typical areas subject to cobalt deficiency are coastal sand soils and high rainfall granite regions in Queensland and New South Wales.

Signs of Cobalt Deficiency

Ill-thrift in young stock
Anorexia
Infections
Reduced parasite resistance
Increased degree of ketosis.

Selenium

Selenium and Vitamin E have independent but complementary roles as antioxidants and are essential elements for animals. Selenium status of pastures is dependent on soil selenium concentration. One of the major effects caused by selenium deficiency is retained placentas after birth and low fertility rates. Increases in selenium during joining has seen to reduce the rate of embryo death during the first month of gestation.

Signs of Selenium Deficiency

Suboptimal milk production
Suboptimal fertility in adult cattle
Retained foetal membranes (RFM)
Mastitis
Premature, weak calves, perinatal death and abortions.
Immune disfunction
White muscle disease and muscular dystrophy in young cattle.

Manganese

Manganese is required for proper skeletal development in young animals and normal reproductive performance in adult. Manganese is necessary for normal fertility rate in cattle and feeding low manganese rations depresses conception rates. Impaired reproduction, increased number of services (from bull) required for conceptions, increased days to first oestrus and reduced calf rates are all results of manganese reduced diets. Manganese is an important component of the production in cholesterol. Cholesterol is necessary to produce progesterone, which impacts the onset of oestrus and delays re-conception rates when progesterone production is reduced.

Signs of Manganese Deficiency

Reduced Conception rates
Increased number or servings
Increased an-oestrus time
Reduced calf rates
Deformation in bones and cartilage.

Zinc

Zinc is a vital element in the sexual maturation and reproductive performance of livestock species. Zinc deficiency has been tied to multiple reproductive disorders in both male and female animals.

Zinc is critical for sperm health and male fertility in cattle. It is involved in every aspect, from sperm production to fertilisation. Supplementary zinc has seen to increase semen volume, levels of live sperm and sperm motility when compared to non-supplemented animals.

In female reproductive health, Zinc influences the maturation of oocytes (predevelopment of eggs) fertilizations, and embryonic and placental development.

Signs of Zinc Deficiency

Skin lesions
Impaired growth
Increased infection
Ill-thrift
White patches of hair
Hair loss

By using a supplement such as our Fertility Plus or Beef Phosphomix you can provide the herd with a boost of vitamins and minerals as well as high levels of protein and energy through protein meals. It contains high levels of Phosphorous and has an unmatched vitamin/mineral content which is formulated to improve conception rates, herd health and eliminate nutritional deficiencies. The quality protein meals in both the Beef Phosphomix and Fertility Plus help to increase milk production which could see an extra weight gain of 0.1kg / head / day in a weaner, which can equate to an extra 25kg for an 8 month old weaner.

It includes organic minerals in the form of “Bioplex High Five” which is highly absorbed by the animal and provides high levels of Cobalt, Copper, Manganese, Selenium and Zinc, which greatly enhance breeder fertility and herd health.

Understanding and mitigating the risks of Pimelea

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:49:35 GMT

With the perfect storm of events this winter, the pimelea growth has skyrocketed. Like the conditions seen in 2021 and 2022, late winter rainfall, followed by cold weather and limited tropical pasture growth has resulted in increased pimelea growth.

Pimelea is a native plant to Australia and New Zealand, with 150 identified species, of 110 are endemic to Australia. Of the species found around Australia, a small number (4) are associated with poisoning in cattle.

P. elongata
P. simplex subsp. continua
P. simplex subsp. simplex
P. trichostachya

Figure 1. Pimelea plant species commonly found in QLD, NSW and SA. a) P. simplex subsp. simplex, (b) P. trichostachya and (c) P. elongata (source: Poisonous Plants of the Genus Pimelea: A Menace for the Australian Livestock Industry. Toxins 2023, 15, 374.)

All these plants are considered toxic to cattle and contain the toxic secondary metabolite simplexin. Cattle being the most susceptible to the toxic effects of simplexin, exhibiting distinct symptoms that often lead to long term affects and death in extreme cases. Current suggested management options of livestock include, providing feed supplementation, restricting access to infested pastures and the use of herbicides to reduce spread. Much of this advice is easier said than done, with producers needing to continue to utilise land, feed and input costs already being high and herbicides over large land parcels being too costly.

Preferred Habitat & Environmental requirements

As mentioned above, pimelea needs a perfect storm to flourish. All four poisonous species and sub species are annuals and require a specific set of conditions to grow. As a spring flowering plant, they grow well in winter following rainfall and dry summers suppress establishment. The plants abundance depends on the prevailing conditions and can be influenced by the intensity of inter and intra specific competition. Inter- and intra- specific competition refers to the competition for resources between individuals of different species (interspecific) and individuals of the same species (intraspecific).

Timing of Outbreaks

The conditions that favour outbreaks of poisoning include low summer rain in the previous year

Good autumn and early winter rain
Low spring/summer rain with a feed shortage
Land with little perennial pasture either due to:
The nature of the land system
Insufficient summer rain to support perennial grasses,
Past or present grazing practices.
Careful inspection is required following any rain fall of over 20mm in coolers times and 50mm in autumn and spring.

Poison Action

The toxic component of Pimelea, simplexin, is considered a hydrocarbon fat, similar to fatty acids found widely within the body and other plant materials. Plants naturally synthesis and accumulate secondary metabolites (essential stress response) for a variety of different purposes, often attributed to survival.

“The does that makes the poison” (Paracelsus 1493-1541), is a phase attributed to many toxic effects of compounds in the world. This phrase also applies to the toxic effects of Pimelea. It is regardless of the plant and/or the toxin’s abundance or distribution, it is the quantity of the intake and absorption that effects the animal. Simplexin toxin is highest in green and growing plants, however due to the smell of the green plant, stock generally avoid it.

Signs of Pimelea Poisoning

Pimelea poisoning shows in three types of symptoms

Fluid swellings often under the jaw, down the neck, brisket and can extend under the belly
Diarrhoea, dark foul smelling and sometimes contains blood
Weight loss
Distended jugular veins with prominent pulse
Pale mucus membranes
Breathing difficulties
Reluctance to move
Decreased appetite
Depression
Becoming easily agitated and aggressive

There are comments from many producers, that certain categories of stock are more susceptible than others. In general, all stock are susceptible to poisoning, dependent on intake irrespective of breed, sex and age. Cattle aged between 18-24 months were most affected as were cows, bulls and heifers. Steers and bullocks seem to be less susceptible, possibly due to producers growing these classes of stock on different country types for improved weight gains. Home bred stock usually avoid areas of high growth, especially when green. This could explain why stock are introduced into pimelea infested areas are more likely to show symptoms when compared to home bred animals.

Supplementation with sulphur and urea have also ben reported as a tool for decreasing the impact of poisoning. This may be due to the increase protein intake, improving rumen function and increasing rumen passage rate, which may reduce time of absorption in the gut.

Treatment and Prevention

There is currently no scientifically proven cure for pimelea poisoning. With no immune response triggered and no development of antibodies there is little evidence to suggest an antibiotic, antiviral or vaccine will be a viable treatment and prevention option.

The QAAFI have been conducting many trials and in vitro research into different techniques for managing and preventing pimelea poisoning.

A promising trail using different toxin absorbents has led to good results. The most effective binder was sodium bentonite at 12mg/ml, which bound 95% of the simplexin toxin. Both sodium and calcium bentonite remained bound to the toxin for the longest period.

Reference: Gordon R, Hungerford N, Laycock B, Ouwerkerk D, Fletcher M. 2019. Adsorbents for the sequestration of the Pimelea toxin, simplexin. Poster 352 at the Northern Beef Research Update Conference, Brisbane, 2019 http://www.nabrc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/NBRUC-Conference-Proceedings.pdf.

Other research suggests the possibility of using a biodegradable biopolymer as a rumen bolus to continually stimulate to production and proliferation of rumen bacteria that may detoxify the toxin.

Although the recent wet weather has been welcomed by most, in some areas it has resulted in an unwelcome outbreak of the Toxic Pimelea Plant.

Ask our friendly staff about our supplement range that can help mitigate the risks associated with Pimelea and reduce its toxicity.

References

Fletcher, M.; Silcock, R.; Ossedryver, S.; Milson, J.; Chow, S. Understanding Pimelea Poisoning of Cattle. Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. 2009. Available online: https://futurebeef.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Understanding_pimelea_poisoning_of_cattle.pdf (accessed on 11 April 2023).

Gordon, R. J., Hungerford, N. L., Laycock, B., & Fletcher, M. T. (2020). A review on Pimelea poisoning of livestock. Toxicon, 186, 46-57.

Saleem, R., Bajwa, A. A., Campbell, S., Fletcher, M. T., Kalaipandian, S., & Adkins, S. W. (2023). Poisonous Plants of the Genus Pimelea: A Menace for the Australian Livestock Industry. Toxins, 15(6), 374.

Saleem, R. (2022). Germination triggers, persistence, and management of Pimelea trichostachya Lindl. in Queensland.

Protein for Pastures

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:34:30 GMT

Widespread summer rainfall has created a great pasture base for many producers going into winter. While this pasture base allows our producers to reduce the need to purchase hay or substitute feed, the quality of the pasture in winter will decline and will become a limiting factor to production. Understanding that diet quality effects passage rate in the rumen and therefore pasture intake is key to creating an effective supplement program, particularly during winter.

Pasture quantity and quality are key drivers of production. As the winter months creep forward, nutrient density in pastures change, primarily associated with plant maturity. As grasses reach maturity, phase 4 or when seed head has lost all seeds, these plants are both low in protein and energy. During this time, it is important to assess grasses and provide stock with adequate protein and energy to prevent weight loss and maintain production.

As plants mature and become more lignified, they become harder to digest. Due to this reduction in digestibility of plants, the movement in the rumen in slower and ‘gut fill’ increases. As a result, the animal is unable to consume the required pasture intake to meet daily requirements. Typically, tropical grasses, during winter have a Crude protein and metabolisable energy level of 6% and 5 MJ respectively. At this level, cattle cannot consume enough pasture to meet requirements, with particular emphasis on breeding stock with higher maintenance requirements due to pregnancy or lactation.

Using supplements with high protein and mineral can allow cattle to digest dry pastures and provide supplementary protein for production.

Protein Supplementation

Protein supplements can improve the nutritional status of the cows by increasing digestibility and intake of low-quality forages and increase nutrient flow of protein from the rumen to the intestine. Supplying protein supplements to cattle provides a source of nitrogen and sulphur for the development of large populations of desirable rumen microbes. Protein fed to ruminants can be divided into two broad groups:

Rumen Degraded Protein (RDP) – Protein that is broken down in the rumen, by rumen microbes to form microbial protein. These microbes are subsequently flushed out of the rumen and are digested along with bypass protein lower in the digestive system.

Undegraded Dietary Protein (UDP) or Bypass protein – Protein that escapes breakdown in the rumen and is digested in the fourth stomach (abomasum) and small intestines similar to microbial protein.

Protein meals are great sources of rumen degradable protein, bypass protein and energy. Urea is also a great source of nitrogen; however, it contains no energy or bypass protein properties and is referred to as a non-protein nitrogen source. Urea is utilised with sulphur by rumen microbes to improve rumen function and supply a source of microbial protein.

It is important to note that with effective protein supplementation, animals can consume up to 30% more feed. This 30% increase in intake could mean the difference between losing weight and maintain weight. There is also an increased economic benefit to supplementation. Starting supplement programs early is a key factor in maintain weights over winter and avoiding the need for supplementary feeds such as hay or grain.

Top Tips for using Drylick

Protein and urea supplements can be used to increase digestion in animals. A key indicator of slow digestion is hard, piled manure.
Urea can potentially kill stock if consumed too quickly. It is important to introduce stock to urea gradually for the rumen to be able to utilise the ammonia.
Never introduce supplements to hungry or starving stock, this will result in high consumption rates and possibly lead to ammonia toxicity.
Keep supplements with urea dry at all times. Use troughs that are well drained with a cover, like the Nutramix Feeders to protect your supplement.
Effective urea supplementation can increase pasture intakes, consider this when looking at winter stocking rates.
Maintain records of supplement fed out, this will help to evaluated consumption rates. This will also help plan a successful and cost-effective supplements program.
For best animal results, supplementation should begin before animals have noticeably lost too much weight. Once animals have lost too much weight, alternative feeding programs will need to be implemented e.g. additional high-quality hay or pellets.

Make sure you are ready this dry season with a supplement plan. Talk to one of our friendly staff members about creating a supplement plan that best suits you and your production goals. Keep an eye out for our winter specials on supplements and stockfeeds. Click here to see our complete range of supplements for Breeders and growing cattle for the dry/winter season.

Sulphur for Sorghum

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 07:35:59 GMT

Summer forage crops are a great source of feed and increases animal performance with excellent returns. As with other forage crops, the young green leaf and shoots of sorghum are the most digestible and initially have the highest feed value however sorghum has a toxic component in the plant when young, immature, and fast growing. Prussic acid poisoning has been recognised for many years in cattle grazing forage sorghum crops. There are many factors that influence the incidence of Prussic Acid poisoning, and the great news is, it’s preventable through management and nutritional supplements.

What is Prussic Acid?

Prussic Acid is hydrogen cyanide. Sorghum, silk sorghum and some woody plant species can accumulate cyanide within the plant. In the plant, cyanide naturally exists as part of plant compounds in a non-toxic form called cyanogenic glycosides. When plant cells are damaged, through chewing, trampling, freezing, heat stress or any other stress factors, the cyanogenic glycosides combine with a specific enzyme to product hydrogen cyanide. Prussic Acid is a potent fast acting poison which enters the blood stream and inhibits oxygen utilisation by the cells. In plan words, this causes the animal to suffocate from within the body.

Factors influencing prussic acid levels

Stress – a plant that is under stress, particularly moisture stress, will have higher prussic acid causing compounds than plants that are not stressed, this is heightened again, if the plant in below 50cm tall.
Stage of growth – the level of prussic acid decreases as the plant matures, plants 0.8-1m have a significant lower risk of prussic acid, provided the plant is not stressed.
Sorghum type – different types of sorghum species have different prussic acid levels. Sudan grasses are considered to have low levels, whereas sweet sorghums and grain sorghums have high levels of compounds that contribute to the production of prussic acid.
Soil nutrients – high nitrogen level within the plant can increase the prussic acid content, as can low soil phosphorus levels.

Symptoms of Prussic Acid poisoning

There are key symptoms of prussic acid poisoning, however it is always advised to get a diagnosis from a registered veterinarian.

Key symptoms include;

Muscle trembling
Staggers
Deep and rapid breathing
Frothing from the mouth
Gasping respiration

Collapse, coma and death may occur in extreme cases. Cattle have the ability to detoxify prussic acid with the correct nutritional supplements.

Preventing Prussic Acid poisoning

Prevention is King! Management and nutrition of the plant and animal are key to preventing prussic acid poisoning. Recommended grazing management strategies for forage sorghum are;

SULPHUR – Supplementary Sulphur is a must when grazing forage sorghum. More detail about sulphur supplements are in the next section
Plant height – plants should be above 80cm tall for grazing.
Stock condition – stock should not be starving or hungry prior to grazing forage sorghum crops. Making sure cattle are full of supplement dry feed before introducing to forage sorghum crops helps lower the incidence of prussic acid poisoning at first introduction.
Salt – all forage sorghum varieties are low in salt, animals that have a supplement containing salt will perform better.

Sulphur Supplementation

Feeding a product high in sulphur, like Nutramix’s Forage promix, is a simple and effective way to supply sulphur to cattle that are grazing forage sorghum crops. When stock are grazing forage sorghum, particularly as the sole source of feed, they will become sulphur deficient due to the increased use of sulphur within the body and forage sorghums being typically low in sulphur. The significant effects of prussic acid may not be the obvious signs of sulphur deficiency, however loss in weight gains and poor animal performance are key indicators. Sulphur deficiency is exponential when prussic acid level is high. Sulphur is a key component in the prussic acid detoxification process within the animal. So long as the animal has an adequate sulphur intake, they can detoxify prussic acid.

Forage Promix

Nutramix’s Forage Promix, is the ideal supplement to aid in increase sulphur intake on forage crops this summer. Detoxify and increase production through the specifically design and formulate low consumption drylick. Suitable for all classes of livestock include sheep. With an unbeatable nutritional analysis, the Forage Promix is the only supplement any grazier should consider this forage feeding season.

Phosphorus for Profit

Fri, 05 May 2023 06:12:42 GMT

Winter supplements in Northern Australia are focused towards supplying increased protein where grasses are lacking. This is by far one of the most important parts of supplements in winter and a key component of maintaining breeder weights or improving growing animal weight gains. One of the biggest myths is; “Cattle cannot absorb phosphorus during the dry season”, this simply is not true. The factor of the most limiting nutrient is the biggest determination of how well a nutrient is absorbed. Dry season supplements address protein and energy deficiencies, due to these nutrients being the most limiting in dry mature pastures. Once these issues have been addressed, other nutrients become limiting, and the need of these nutrients presents itself. Phosphorus in the dry season is the third most limiting nutrient so the need for phosphorus becomes apparent when protein and energy deficiencies are met through supplementation providing urea.

The Easy P trial looks at the solution to many problems with supplementing Phosphorus in the wet season. It has been proven that wet season phosphorus supplements improve breeder conception rates, reconception rates in lactating cows, increased weaner weights and in the Kidman Springs trial, a whopping 11.8 tonnes of extra calf kgs were weaned over the first three calf drops. From these results, wet season phosphorous supplementation is a no brainer. The biggest problem facing producers with wet season supplementation is access. Feeding through the wet season can be problematic due to flooded creeks and boggy roads preventing producers from delivering products to paddocks. The Easy P trial focuses on increasing phosphorus supplementation during the dry season. To see the Easy P trial update, Click Here .

Phosphorus Supplementation

Why Feed Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is an important element in almost every vital body function. Phosphorus is used for building bones and teeth, metabolising fat, carbohydrates, and protein, producing milk and for efficient feed utilisation. Lactating and pregnant cows, heifers and young growing animals need phosphorous in large quantities to maintain production. Growing cattle need 9g of P/kg liveweight gain for muscle and bone. Lactating cows need 1.9g of phosphors per litre of milk they produce, this does not consider the need for phosphorus in daily maintenance or conception/pregnancy. As a rule, more calves equal more kgs of beef and for many of us the more kgs of beef we produce, the more profitable we are. Phosphorous supplementation is proven to improve conception rate, weaning rates and growth rates, more kg to bring more cash to your back pocket.

Why Feed Phosphorus?

Making the decision on how much phosphorous should be in a supplement depends largely on the time of year the supplement is out. Wet season supplements should always be high in mineral content to supply cattle with minerals in high energy and protein grasses, where mineral content is low. Phosphorus content in wet season licks is also determined by property location and the variation of land types across the property. Another consideration is if cows have been in a phosphorus deficient period for some time without any supplemental phosphorus supplied. If an animal is mobilising P from the bones to alleviate a dietary deficiency, there is always a need to supply P at some point to replenish bone reserves before the next reproductive cycle. In deficient country, wet season supplements should have a 9% phosphorus content. During dry seasons or on dry pastures, this phosphorus content can be reduced due to the increased need to supply protein and energy. 4% P concentration in dry season supplements on deficient country will help increase phosphorus intake and replenish bone reserves for the up coming wet season when P is limiting.

Key Handy Tips

The animals that are most in need of phosphorus supplements are growing stock, late-pregnant heifers and cows and lactation cows.
Signs or acute P deficiency are bone chewing, broken bones, peg-leg, poor body condition and botulism.
A typical wet season supplement should have at least 8% phosphorus. Dry season supplements can have 2-4% depending on soil phosphorus concentrations.
On deficient country, lowering stocking rate will not reduce the need to feed phosphorus.
To get more information about phosphorus supplementation, click here to go to the Future Beef website.

Nutramix has an extensive range of high phosphorus supplements that are specifically designed to deliver the optimum phosphorus level to cattle either during the wet season or during the dry season. The Beef Phosphomix is the best high phosphorus supplement on the market with 9% P and an unmatched mineral and vitamin content. This product is ideal for wet season supplementation on marginally deficient or acutely deficient country. The dry season supplement range can be formulated to increase the phosphorus content. This HiPhos range has a P concentration of 4%, ideal for increasing phosphorus intakes through the dry season, however continuing to supply cattle with the essential protein and energy needed to help digest dry grasses. To see all our Dry Season Supplements, click here . Talk to our friendly staff about which Dry season supplement if best for you and your production system.

Beef Phosphomix

Breeder HiPhos

Mulga Supplementation

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 06:38:09 GMT

Mulga provides a valuable feed source for stock, particularly through dry periods or drought. Mulga land types extend over areas of New South Wales and Queensland rangelands covering an impressive 20% of Australia’s landmass. Mulga provides supplementary feed to low quality pasture due to the mulga leaf retaining its nutritive value where grasses energy and protein level decline as they mature and die off. It is always important to consider the nutritional requirements for your stock and how to best meet these requirements.

Important considerations when feeding mulga are the common deficiencies found in the plant and how supplements can counteract these problems and improve production. Stock can do very well on mulga; however, mulga has a low digestibility and much of the protein is bound by tannins.

Key Components of Mulga Supplements

High protein
Both in the form of Urea and Bypass Protein (protein meals)
This allows stock to consume more mulga and increase overall protein and energy intake for maintaining weight.
Appropriate levels of Phosphorous
Low phosphorous can cause reproductive problems, predispose stock to botulism and also decrease overall intake and productivity of a herd.
Appropriate levels of sulphur
Sulphur is important for both digesting urea and utilising protein and for breaking down condensed tannins to allows animals more access to protein.
Balanced Nutrients
Balanced nutrients are very important mineral interaction and absorption. Vitamins are also important, particularly when experiencing long dry periods.

Due to the importance of mulga as fodder for sheep and cattle, considerable research into how producers can successfully feed mulga and overcome the dietary limitations has occurred over the past decades.

Mulga has a high protein level, 10-14%. This protein level, during dry periods when pasture is mature and low quality is a great resource. It is however, as mentioned previously, bound by tannins which drop the digestibility of the forage to 35-40%. These tannins are also responsible for binding much of the protein found in Mulga. Sulphur supplementation is a great way to help cattle break down the tannins binding the protein and increase production off mulga scrub diets.

Nutramix dry lick supplements aim to correct the mulga feed’s minerals and protein content deficiencies and fast the passage rate through the rumen. Nutramix can custom make your supplements to meet the needs of your land, stock, season, and favourite outcomes. If you would like to learn more about Nutramix supplements range, please get in touch with our friendly staff today.

Winter Protein Supplementation

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:42:49 GMT

Understanding that diet quality effects passage rate in the rumen and therefore pasture intake is key to creating an effective supplement program, particularly during winter.

With the current season being drier than usual and many parts of Queensland and Northern New South Wales recording lower than average summer rain falls, it is time to start thinking about supplementation during Autumn and Winter. Pasture quantity and quality are key drivers of production. As the winter months creep forward, nutrient density in pastures change, primarily associated with plant maturity. As grasses reach maturity, phase 4 or when seed head has lost all seeds, these plants are both low in protein and energy. During this time, it is important to assess grasses and provide stock with adequate protein and energy to prevent weight loss and maintain production.

As plants mature and become more lignified, they become harder to digest. Due to this reduction in digestibility of plants, the movement in the rumen in slower and ‘gut fill’ increases. As a result, the animal is unable to consume the required pasture intake to meet daily requirements. Typically, tropical grasses, during winter have a Crude protein and metabolisable energy level of 6% and 5 MJ respectively. At this level, cattle can not consume enough pasture to meet requirements, with particular emphasis on breeding stock with higher maintenance requirements due to pregnancy or lactation.

Nutrient Requirements of Breeders

Nutrient requirements increase substantially with milk production and pregnancy. Protein and energy requirements are greater during lactation than at any other time during the 12-month production cycle of a cow. Cows require 20% more protein and 14% more energy during the last third of pregnancy when compared to the middle third of pregnancy. As stated above, passage of forage through the cow’s digestive tract becomes slower and total intake is reduced as lower quality, more mature grasses are consumed. Inability of an animal to consume enough nutrients in a forage diet is greatest when density of the nutrient is low and/or when animal requirements are high. A cow consuming forage of 5%-6% crude protein is not likely to consume enough forage to meet protein requirements during lactation or late gestation.

Protein Supplementation

Rumen Degraded Protein (RDP) – Protein that is broken down in the rumen by rumen microbes to form microbial protein. These microbes are subsequently flushed out of the rumen and are digested along with bypass protein lower in the digestive system.
Undegraded Dietary Protein (UDP) or Bypass protein – Protein that escapes breakdown in the rumen and is digested in the fourth stomach (abomasum) and small intestines similar to microbial protein.

Protein meals (Cottonseed, canola, Dried distillers grains) are great sources of rumen degradable protein, bypass protein and energy. Urea is also a great source of nitrogen; however, it contains no energy or bypass protein properties and is referred to as a non-protein nitrogen source. Urea is utilised with sulphur by rumen microbes to improve rumen function and supply a source of microbial protein.

Make sure you are ready this dry season with a supplement plan. Talk to one of our friendly staff members about creating a supplement plan that best suits you and your production goals. Keep an eye out for our winter specials on supplements and stockfeeds. Click here to see all our complete range of supplements for Breeders.

Are You Weaning Ready?

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:54:38 GMT

Dry autumn forecast . The Bureau of Meteorology suggests that the coming months will be drier and hotter than usual across most of Australia from the recent long-term autumn 2023 forecast. Warmer than usual daytime temperatures and drier areas emerging in some parts of Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales, weaning and early weaning supplement strategies may prove an advantage before winter descends.

Early weaning is often defined by weaning calves at a younger age than ‘normal’ practice. In Queensland, the ‘normal’ range of weaning is between 7-8 months, the range does extend either way dependent on environment. In extreme cases, early weaning (without milk replacer) can be performed safely and effectively down to 4-6 weeks of age, although calves that have reached 3-4 months are considerably easier to feed and manage.

The main reason behind early weaning is the proactive management of breeding herds for improved productivity or due to feed scarcity. Pregnancy and lactation are a period in a cow’s reproductive cycle that causes extreme metabolic strain and can have drastic consequences on body condition, pregnancy rates, long term calf performance and possible deaths. The feed requirement for a cow with calf at foot are 50-65% higher than a dry cow, considerable damage to pastures can occur as a result of high forage demand.

All calves are born with an underdeveloped rumen, and this continues to stay premature until calves come of an age where they start to forage. During the first few months, the rumen gradually develops, and rate of development depends on the nutrition, condition, and supply of milk from the cow and available feed in the paddock. Typically, calves can be functioning as normal ruminants between 3-6 months of age.

Early weaned calves may not have a completely functioning rumen and most of their digestive tract functions largely like a monogastric animal (e.g., pigs), depending mainly on the abomasum and fourth stomach acting as the main digestive chambers. If a calf is old enough to be weaned from milk, a grain-based diet which can be readily digested should be provided as the main source of nutrition, as should hay/roughage to ensure the rumen continues to develop normally.

The first two weeks post weaning is a critical time to ensure calves have access to a high-quality diet to help overcome weaning stress, maintain health and become nutritionally independent.

Energy and Protein

The younger a calf is weaned, the higher the energy and protein levels need to be in feeds. Early weaning feed products or rations should be at least 11 MJ ME/kg and a minimum of 16% protein. Unless pasture/hay/silage quality is very high, feed intake will be restricted by small rumen capacity and low forage quality. If feed moister level is too high, small calves can not physically consume the high level of feed needed to meet daily maintenance and growth requirements.

Table 1. Nutrient Requirements for 0.7kg/day growth rate. (source: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/beef/health-and-welfare/early-weaning-of-beef-calves )

To improve energy and protein intakes, dry concentrate diets supplements can be provided to weaners. Nutramix has many options when it comes to managing and feeding weaned calves.

Calf Rearer Pellets 18%

Nutramix has a specifically formulated calf rearer pellet to supply young calves with all essential energy, protein and mineral requirements. This product is suitable for calves aged up to 4 months. This products consists of high quality protein sources with a minimum protein level of 18% and energy level of 12 MJ ME/kg, making this the ideal supplement for small calves with immature rumens and encourages early foraging behaviour. In pellet form, this product is cost effect and easy to manage either in paddock of supplied in confinement with good quality roughage. Follow this link to find out more about our Calf Rearer Pellets 18%

Weaner Pellets 16%

Maximising weight gains through weaning while managing weaning stress can be difficult to achieve. The Weaner Pellets 16% is a highly palatable, safe to feed weaning supplement solution. The weaner pellets 16% are made with high quality ingredients with a specifically formulated high energy and protein content to maximise weaner weight gain and ease weaning transition from Mum to paddock. With adequate fibre content, these pellets help to transition rumen microbes to a fibre based diet, ensuring weaners maintain high growth rates when on pasture only diets. These pellets can be fed in paddock or during confinement with high quality roughage supplied. Easy to mange and safe to feed, the weaner pellets are an ideal solution for producers during the weaning period. Follow this link to find out more about our Weaner Pellets 16%

Kidman Springs Phosphorus Supplementation Trial Demonstrates > 300% ROI

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 08:01:21 GMT

It is well documented that much of northern Australia is phosphorus (P) deficient and that P is required for almost every vital bodily function in cattle. However, supplement sales figures and industry feedback indicates that the majority of northern properties in P deficient areas are not supplementing their cattle with P over the wet season. Current thinking is that producers must not believe that they will get a good enough return feeding a P supplement to justify the expense and hassle of feeding supplement over the wet season. Past studies have shown that P supplementation increases growth, however, there have been few studies that have found a significant improvement in reproductive performance from P supplementation in northern Australia and quantified the benefit. This may be a reason why adoption has been so low.

A trial commenced in 2014 at the Victoria River Research Station, Kidman Springs, to quantify the benefits of P supplementation. This trial will provide producers in P deficient areas with definitive data on the effects of supplementing females with P so that they are able to make better informed supplementation decisions.

Brahman heifers born in 2014 were randomly allocated to either a +P (where phosphorus was supplied in the supplement) or –P (where phosphorus was not included in the supplement) treatment and grazed in neighbouring paddocks that were tested as acutely P deficient. Treatments swap paddocks in May each year to minimise paddock effects. Treatments are managed exactly the same year round, with the exception that their loose lick supplements either contain P (+P) or do not (-P). Composition of lick fed to each treatment can be seen in Table 1.

Note: Soil test Colwell P levels: Acutely deficient: ≤4mg P/kg | Deficient: 5mg P/kg | Marginal: 6-8mg P/kg

Table 1. Composition of Trial Supplements

Key Results

While the trial is ongoing, there are already very compelling preliminary results coming through.

2016-17 data (1st calf)

The +P group were, on average, 66 kg heavier at the end of their first mating (April 2016) and pregnancy rates were 10% higher in +P maiden heifers. Calf loss was similar in both treatments but re-conception rates were 25% higher in the +P first lactation heifers.

When the calves were weaned in May 2017 the +P lactating heifers were, on average, 120 kg heavier than –P treatment heifers. In addition to this, the average weaning weight of calves was 34 kg heavier from the +P treatment. The +P treatment weaned 3,072 kg more calves than the –P treatment. Based on a 2017 price for weaners of $3.50, the additional 3,072 kg weaned from the +P treatment equates to an additional $10,751 (the study started with 91 heifers in +P and 89 in –P).

Also the mortality rate from the start of the study to when the first calves were weaned was 7% higher in –P treatment heifers (ie. 8% in –P vs 1% in +P).

2017-18 data (2nd calf)

At the weaning muster in May 2018, the average weight of the cows in the +P treatment was 69 kg heavier than the –P treatment (in both wet and dry cows) and the wet cow pregnancy rate was 37% higher for the +P treatment. On average the weaning weight of calves from the +P treatment were 13 kg heavier than the –P calves. The total weight of calves weaned from the +P treatment was 2,806 kg more than from the –P treatment.

A more thorough economic analysis will be undertaken as the project progresses, but the very basic comparison shown in Table 2 shows that the return on investment in P supplementation in this study has been high.

By May 2018, the total value of calves weaned from the treatment was $19,169 more from +P, while the total cost of the supplement consumed by each treatment was $5,529 more by +P (comparing the cost of the supplement consumed by +P year round to the cost of supplement consumed by –P in the dry season only). This gives a cumulative return on investment of nearly 350%. Table 3 shows the results to date from the trial.

Table 2. Cost: Benefit information on P supplementation in the Kidman Springs trial

*total value of extra supplement consumed by +P up to May 2017

**total value of extra supplement consumed by +P up to May 2018

It should be noted that while the trial is showing positive benefits of P supplementation that the response on other properties will vary depending on the level of P deficiency in the soil. Where P deficiency is not as severe the benefits of P supplementation may not be as great. While soil testing can provide an indication of P deficiency, it is not considered definitive. Currently the most reliable method of assessing P status of the herd is by taking blood samples of growing animals (that have not been eating P supplement or drinking milk) at the end of the wet season and testing for plasma inorganic phosphorus. These could be one year old animals running with breeders to get a P status from breeder paddocks.

Table 3. Results from the Kidman Springs P supplement trial

Additional information about this project can be found on the Effects of phosphorus supplementation on Brahman females at Kidman Springs (VRRS) project page.

For more information contact: Tim Schatz, Principal Livestock Research Officer, NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Tel: 08 89992332 e: tim.schatz@nt.gov.au

This project has been funded by the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.

Mulga- Your Stock, Your Supplement - With Clynt Johnstone

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:50:44 GMT

Future Beef- Case study on the effectiveness of the right supplement on mulga country.

Pastures for Horses

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:48:41 GMT

DPI NSW- A good pasture will meet the nutritional needs of most horses including brood and lactating mares and growing foals, although working horses may require some supplementation.

Spring into Action

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:34:47 GMT

Be on the front foot for spring by taking steps now to prepare pastures and plan livestock activities. Here, advisors from all over the country share their tips to guide on farm management decisions through late winter and into spring.

Five Tips for Grazing Sheep on Stubbles

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:30:07 GMT

Did you know crop stubbles grown in Australia could provide about three billion ewe grazing days, or enough forage to feed Australia’s 65 million sheep flock for six weeks?

Most broadacre crops are grown in mixed farming areas, where cropping and livestock enterprises are combined. In these areas, stubbles make up an important part of the seasonal feedbase.

Why should producers graze stubbles?

Stubbles provide a substantial feedbase component, with ewes in mixed farms typically spending 20% of their time on stubbles each year.
Stubbles provide a high quality source of feed during summer.
Removing spilt grain from paddocks reduces risk of pests such as mice or birds.
Breaking down the stubbles makes the following cropping season easier as seeding into high volume stubbles can be difficult.

MLA and Australian Wool Innovation have co-funded the Modern Stubbles project to help producers understand how to effectively graze sheep on stubbles. Here, project lead researcher, Dr Dean Thomas from the CSIRO, gives his five tips for grazing sheep on stubbles.

Maintain a good source of nutrition
Grazing stubbles is often done when ewes are pregnant so it's important they’re kept in good condition. Producers should aim for a condition score of three and have them on a rising plane of nutrition.

Stubbles are a feed source that starts as high quality but depletes quickly (as the sheep clean up the spilt grain) so producers need to keep this characteristic in mind to ensure a good source of nutrition is maintained.

Grains and young green plants have a higher proportion of digestible carbohydrates and protein, so they typically have a higher nutritive value. Leaf and fine stem components are low quality but generally edible, and make up roughly half of the energy for a typical diet from dry stubbles (where the remainder is grain and green material).

However, ripe wheat stems (that make up a large component of stubbles) have a high proportion of structural carbohydrates that are poorly digestible, making them lower in nutritive value and generally little of this material is eaten.
Prioritise stubbles for grazing
It’s important for producers to prioritise stubbles for grazing by:
providing ewes or finishing lambs with the highest quality stubbles, followed by pregnant ewes (or in preparation for joining)
allowing older ewes to graze on lower quality stubbles, such as wheat or canola stubbles, although provision of adequate nutrition is still key.
Keep an eye out for metabolic diseases
There are a few risks associated with grazing stubbles, such as acidosis. Spread out any piles of grain left in the paddock after harvest to reduce this risk. Acclimatise ewes first by starting them on barley or lupin stubbles prior to grazing wheat stubbles.

Vitamin E deficiency can occur if sheep graze stubbles for an extended period without access to green feed. Supplement with vitamin E (drenched or injected) or provide access to adjacent areas of perennial grasses and shrubs for a source of vitamin E.
Have the right infrastructure in place
Stubbles are a drier feed so producers need to have good fences and a source of water. Sheep will require 3–5L per sheep/per day to graze stubbles (more during hot weather).
Select paddocks carefully
Graze carefully on paddocks that are susceptible to wind erosion because grazing stubbles can break down ground cover, and sheep will often camp in susceptible areas such as hill crests and sandy patches. Extended grazing may result in sheep tracks that increase erosion risks.

Grazing Stubbles Made Easy

The Modern Stubbles project will develop a stubble grazing calculator. This excel-based tool will allow stubble grazing scenarios to be entered so producers can predict the likely live weight gain based on:

the type of livestock
type of stubble
supplementary feeding.

Further testing of the stubble grazing calculator is now being planned to ensure it is ready for wide scale use by industry.

To Creep or Not to Creep: That Is the Question

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:20:01 GMT

Queensland Country Life- CREEP feeding calves is one strategy beef producers can use to improve the performance of their cow herds and overall profitability of their cattle businesses.

Bloat Risk Increased with Improved Seasonal Conditions

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 07:15:08 GMT

Producers with lush, rapidly growing pastures with high legume contents should be aware of an increased risk of bloat with improved seasonal conditions and a promising outlook throughout southern states.

While there are some products available that may help to treat bloat, the best strategy is prevention. Hence, targeted management will ensure livestock are not affected and producers are still getting returns from their pastures in good seasons.

What is Bloat?

Bloat is a condition that can affect both cattle and sheep, but is more severe in cattle, and is caused by an inability to eructate (“burp”) a build-up of gas in the rumen, which can either be free or frothy, causing pressure on the diaphragm, disrupting breathing.

Bloat can cause severe discomfort in livestock and, in advanced cases, death.

What Causes Bloat?

The most common form is frothy bloat and occurs when a stable foam is created by the ingestion of legume pastures such as lucerne, medics, clover and lush grasses, which trap natural gases that cannot be belched up.

What Causes Bloat?

There are some distinctive clinical signs of bloat in animals grazing high-risk pastures, including:

distension in the left upper flank
cattle not grazing and reluctant to move
cattle appear distressed as the condition is painful and they may be agitated and vocalise or rub their sides against objects such as tree stumps
strain when urinating or defecating
sudden death.

If cattle are in distress, this must be remedied, and veterinary advice should be obtained. While signs of bloat are usually obvious, other causes of death from similar clinical signs, such as nitrate poisoning and clostridial diseases, can occur. If producers are unsure, a veterinary examination can help determine the condition.

Preventing Bloat

Producers concerned about the risk of bloat should take an integrated approach to preventing it this season. Management strategies for prevention include:

Gain professional advice to determine bloat risk of pasture.
Assess and identify high-risk pastures for bloat, especially lush, growing pastures with a high legume content, such as lucerne and sub-clover.
Avoid grazing high-risk pastures during their growing stage – mature pastures are lower risk.
If grazing high-risk pastures, apply mineral oil pasture sprays before grazing and treat trough water with a bloat oil formula.
Bloat blocks/ licks and anti-foaming supplements may be of benefit.
Limit grazing time or implement strip-grazing. (Note: animals can be affected by bloat in less than one hour of heavy grazing, so intense monitoring is recommended).
Ensure livestock have access to roughage such as hay. With higher risk conditions prevalent, do not put hungry animals onto that pasture. Cattle can be filled on roughage before being turned onto pasture to prevent them gorging as heavily.
With pasture management, aim towards grass-legume mixtures with no more than 40% legumes, and incorporate bloat-resistant legumes, such as Lotus corniculatis, into pasture mixes.

When using products, labels should be read and caution should be taken. Products should be used alongside strong management practices for the prevention of bloat.

Treating Bloat

The prevention of bloat should be of foremost importance for producers, but in cases where bloat has occurred, there are a number of treatment options, including:

removing cattle from pastures immediately if signs of bloat occur
bloat drench may provide relief in cases with early symptoms
veterinary application of stomach tubes, or trocar-and-cannula into the left paralumbar fossa.

A list of available treatment products and management options are available in NSW DPI’s Bloat in cattle and sheep .

Staying Ahead

Although bloat is of the greatest risk when pastures are growing and lush, producers should be mindful that issues can persist after the perceived ‘danger period’ has elapsed.

Prolonged wet seasons and green pastures can still create bloat issues, so careful monitoring and management should remain.

Ensure 5-in-1 vaccinations are up-to-date to reduce the chance of other diseases causing similar symptoms to bloat and creating confusion.

Help Out with Bloat Research

Charles Sturt University is conducting research to assess the impact of bloat in Australian beef production systems, and are inviting participation in a survey to share thoughts on bloat. The survey can be accessed at https://www.research.net/r/Bloat_survey , takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete, and knowledge of bloat is not required

Ruminant Nutrition

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:35:53 GMT

Ruminant nutrition and nutrient requirements.

Successful Summer Supplementation

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 01:06:20 GMT

Introducing Nutramix’s “All Season” and “Green Pasture” High Vitamin & Mineral Supplements.

Beef Phosphomix

Providing 9% phosphorus with high mineral and trace element content. The Beef Phosphomix is the perfect supplement for cattle during the wet season grazing phosphorus deficient pastures.

Advantages

Substantially improves breeder fertility
Improves breeder health
Improves milk production, calf growth rate and weaner weights
Reduces the incidence of grass tetany, milk fever, goitres and hoof problems
Improves calf health and vitality at birth
Lowers breeder mortality rates
Improves time from calving to conception
Improves growth rate of breeder and calf
Improves ease of calving during the calving period
Reduces the incidence of retained afterbirth, still births and prolapse
Improves semen quality and testicular development in bulls Results in lower vet costs and time spent administering injection

Fertility Plus

The fertility plus is the ultimate product to boost herd fertility and improve conception rates. High in phosphorous, calcium, sulphur and trace minerals, this product also has a boosted protein level to increase milk production.

Advantages

Substantially improves breeder fertility
Improves breeder health
Improves milk production, calf growth rate and weaner weights
Reduces the incidence of grass tetany, milk fever, goitres and hoof problems
Improves calf health and vitality at birth
Lowers breeder mortality rates
Improves time from calving to conception
Improves growth rate of breeder and calf
Improves ease of calving during the calving period
Reduces the incidence of retained afterbirth, still births and prolapse
Improves semen quality and testicular development in bulls
Results in lower vet costs and time spent administering injections
Extremely cost effective as shown on the cost benefit analysis overleaf High nutritional analysis,

Over the years supplementation has come a long way from basic urea licks. Modern supplementation programs are designed to keep stock well supplied and to balance any seasonal or pasture deficiencies that may occur. Through research and development, we have learned that there is always a limiting nutrient that will reduce productivity on grazing pastures, even when the grass is lush and green.

Pasture quality is constantly changing. When grass is green and growing it doesn’t always have the required amounts of macro and trace minerals. The protein and energy are just as variable due to rainfall, temperature, soil quality and grass maturity.

The pasture quality is not the only element that is constantly changing. Livestock’s nutritional needs change from month to month during different stages of growth, before and after weaning and during pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, stock won’t always have their nutritional needs met from the pasture all year round. We can fill in these nutritional gaps with supplementation.

Minerals play an integral role in a successful breeding cycle of a cow and growth of young stock. Supplementing the herd with minerals, vitamins and proteins during the wet/green season will significantly improve herds conception and growth rates and in turn overall calf health and survival rates

Addressing a mineral deficiency could dramatically boost weight gains or improve overall herd health. Providing extra protein or energy at the right time could convert into much higher weaning weights. Your herd's conception should significantly improve by providing supplements at key times to manage the body condition of your breeding stock and have optimal body fat levels at calving time. If we can continually keep the stock well supplemented, they will be more nutritionally balanced, and ultimately leading to a greater return on investment.

Profitability in a herd is determined by many factors, including the total weight of the calves sold, price received for calves, percentage of cow's bred that wean a calf and the cost of maintaining the herd. The most critical time to ensure you have a better chance of increasing your production and profitability is in the two months prior to calving and through the breeding season. A cow's nutrition in this time can directly impact the ability of the cow to rebreed in a timely manner.

Fertility Plus or Beef Phosphomix, you will provide your herd with a boost of vitamins and minerals as well as high levels of protein and energy through protein meals. It contains 6%Phosphorous, 3%Sulphur and has an unmatched vitamin/mineral content which is formulated to improve conception rates, herd health, and eliminate nutritional deficiencies. The quality protein meals in Fertility Plus and Beef Phosphomix help to increase milk production which could see an extra weight gain of 0.1kg / head / day in a weaner, which equates to an extra 25kgfor an8-month-oldweaner.

Fertility Plus or Beef Phosphomix only requires an increase in calving rates of only 1% to pay for itself. This does not include the benefits from increased milk from the cow, increased growth from the calf, earlier conception, lower vet costs etc. A supplement that has the potential to be on every breeder property during joining and is extremely economical with a cost as little as20cents/ head/day.

There are many different supplementation options available from high phosphorus, low intake mineral supplements, dry season supplements, to finishing stock on a high energy/protein supplement. We can tailor mixes to suit all classes of stock at all different stages of production.

Give us a call today and chat to one of our friendly staff to discuss your supplementation requirements. 07 4667 0000.

nutramix

Garlic for the Prevention of External Parasites

What Is garlic?

Benefits of Garlic in Livestock Nutrition

Conclusion

How Mineral Nutrition Impacts Health and Reproduction in Beef Herds

Effect of Trace minerals on productive performance

Copper

Cobalt

Selenium

Manganese

Zinc

Understanding and mitigating the risks of Pimelea

Preferred Habitat & Environmental requirements

Timing of Outbreaks

Poison Action

Signs of Pimelea Poisoning

Treatment and Prevention

﻿ References

Protein for Pastures

Protein Supplementation

Top Tips for using Drylick

Sulphur for Sorghum

What is Prussic Acid?

Symptoms of Prussic Acid poisoning

Preventing Prussic Acid poisoning

Phosphorus for Profit

Phosphorus Supplementation

Why Feed Phosphorus?

Why Feed Phosphorus?

Key Handy Tips

Beef Phosphomix

Breeder HiPhos

Mulga Supplementation

Key Components of Mulga Supplements

Winter Protein Supplementation

Nutrient Requirements of Breeders

Protein Supplementation

Are You Weaning Ready?

Energy and Protein

Calf Rearer Pellets 18%

Weaner Pellets 16%

Kidman Springs Phosphorus Supplementation Trial Demonstrates > 300% ROI

Table 1. Composition of Trial Supplements

Table 2. Cost: Benefit information on P supplementation in the Kidman Springs trial

Table 3. Results from the Kidman Springs P supplement trial

Mulga- Your Stock, Your Supplement - With Clynt Johnstone

Pastures for Horses

Spring into Action

Five Tips for Grazing Sheep on Stubbles

Why should producers graze stubbles?

Grazing Stubbles Made Easy

To Creep or Not to Creep: That Is the Question

Bloat Risk Increased with Improved Seasonal Conditions

What is Bloat?

What Causes Bloat?

What Causes Bloat?

Preventing Bloat

Treating Bloat

Staying Ahead

Help Out with Bloat Research

Ruminant Nutrition

Successful Summer Supplementation

Beef Phosphomix

Advantages

Fertility Plus

Advantages

References