Choosing the right multivitamin for cattle is essential for maintaining your livestock’s health. You should consider the following factors when picking a multivitamin: the manufacturer’s reputation, the price, the ingredients, and how safe it is to use.
Contents
Vitamin A
Historically, most commercial feed products have included 100 percent or more of the Vitamin A requirement for most classes of cattle. Vitamin A is important for many aspects of animal metabolism. It plays a critical role in bone development, soft tissue maintenance, reproduction, energy metabolism, and immune function.
Vitamin A deficiency can lead to brittle and thickened tissues, poor gain, and reduced fertility. It is also important to maintain the delicate tissues of the respiratory tract and digestive tract.
Vitamin A is stored in the liver of mature cattle. If there are vitamin A deficiencies, the liver can supply adequate amounts for a few months. However, if there are high levels of nitrate in the ration, this can interfere with the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A.
Vitamin A is usually supplied through green grass. However, if the pasture is low in vitamin A, the cattle may need supplemental vitamin A. There are two methods for providing vitamin A to cattle: intramuscular injection or oral supplementation.
B-vitamins
During the production phase of dairy cattle, B-vitamins are added to the feed to help support growth and reproduction. However, research has found that these supplements do not have a significant effect on health and performance. However, there is some research that indicates that supplementing with Co and vitamin B12 may help improve milk production.
The need for B-vitamins in dairy cattle is due to their role in methylmalonyl-CoA isomerase, a cofactor in milk production. Several studies have found that animals with low serum B12 concentrations have poorer growth, reproduction, and milk production.
In the study by Dubeski and others, plasma B12 concentrations in stressed beef calves ranged from 117 to 297 pg/mL. In cattle that were fed a supplemented ration, the plasma concentrations increased to 250 pg/mL.
In another study, Duplessis and colleagues studied 22 dairy herds in the United States. They found that vitamin B12 concentrations in rumen were higher than NRC recommendations. The content of vitamin B12 in rumen ranged from 12 to 663 times the amount in the diet.
Magnesium
Using magnesium in a cattle multivitamin can help prevent grass tetany. Magnesium is a necessary component of the human body. It is important for a number of metabolic processes including regulating glucose metabolism and membrane transport. It is also important in maintaining a steady heart rhythm.
Magnesium oxide is the most commonly used form of supplemental magnesium. It is fed as a rumen alkalizer and is often mixed with an oilseed supplement. However, livestock are often unwilling to consume magnesium oxide at recommended levels.
The relative bioavailability of a mineral is important in determining the cost-effectiveness of a supplementation program. Pure MgO makes poor animal feed. A finer particle size may improve reactivity.
Magnesium is also an ingredient in many laxatives and antacids. It is important in maintaining bone strength and helping to keep blood pressure normal. In addition, it has been found that magnesium may play a role in reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
The best magnesium source is likely domestic MgO. However, the most important mineral is calcium. The highest concentrations of magnesium are found in plant protein sources.
Preventing mastitis
Using the best multivitamin for cattle to prevent mastitis is one way to protect your herd and your milk from this disease. The mammary gland is exposed to many potential pathogens and bacteria and poor nutrition can help these pathogens to grow and establish themselves.
In addition to preventing mastitis, these key nutrients also help beef up your cows’ immune systems. They also contribute to the health of your animals’ digestive tracts and nerve signals.
One of the most important nutrients is vitamin E. Vitamin E is a biological antioxidant that helps your immune system fight off diseases. Vitamin E also has many important functions in your circulatory and nervous systems. It’s also important for your reproductive system.
Studies have shown that vitamin E deficiency reduces the activity of the PMN, which is the body’s first line of cellular defense against bacteria. It’s also important for the immune system’s ability to kill bacteria.
Another important nutrient to prevent mastitis is selenium. It’s important for the teat epithelium, which helps to prevent pathogens from entering the mammary gland.
