That's going to be soil specific. For pre calving we use cheap minerals and over feed them, we then feed extra iodine as deficient here. This year we had to add extra Magnesium to diet as high K silage left us with a few cases of milk fever and ecoli. Lost one cow and another is now dry as a result. Post calving we use a nut with high mineral content. We are also adding Magnesium for tetany, Copper and iodine as deficient in those here also.What pre calver minerals do lads find best for dairy cows ?
I hear you brucey ! Any 1 use lifeline or agritech minerals ?
I add 90 grams/head of call mag in with my minerals. I'm using co op source minerals probably not the best on the market but find adding the cal mag a great job. I also feed 1/4 of a kg of soya/head to dry cows 6 weeks before calving. Had one retained afterbirth this year it was a heifer that had a dead calf inside her for a few hours and had a hard calving.Ya we had a lot of problems with retained cleanings as well so that's why i was thinking of trying a different brand .
I think @6600 said he was doing this on here?I read an article on Kyle McCall from Armagh this year where he said he sprayed Iodine onto the cows once per week in the run up to calving, said it eliminated his issue with retained afterbirths, interesting as hadn't heard of anyone else doing that previously.
Definitely, use minerals all through the winter here, had one retained cleaning. When you have sleepy calves you tend to try everything. Brucey put me on to the iodine thing which may have been low with us.What suits one farm might not work on another. Find lifeline good here
Using agritech minerals (yellow bags) the last good few years. Working well.
Had problems in the past holding cleanings. Tried the iodine, tried tablets in the water. Not convinced.
Yes, and maybe a bit along with it.Are they €30 per 20kg bag?
Pre calving we mix the iodine 50:50 with water, put it in to a watering can and put on top of their silage once a month. We make sure the cows are hungry and we have plenty of feed space. We might go more than once a month if we're not happy they're all getting to it.Going back to the iodine brucey how do you supplement them with it along there back is it ?
Would a high iodine bolus be an option or tablets in the water ?