SMALL, BUT MIGHTY

Trace minerals play a critical role in ensuring dairy herd health.

- Mark Moore

One product category that aptly describes itself is micronutrients. These trace minerals, critical to the dairy animal, are measured in parts per million in the feed ration. Even though they are measured in very low concentrations, they are involved in a variety of functions in the animal, including bone development, energy and protein metabolism, hoof health, reproduction, muscle contraction, and milk production, to name a few.

Your nutrition program likely includes a mix of micronutrients. This mix can vary, depending on the specific needs of the herds. However, it's important that producers understand how a good micronutrient program contributes to the overall health of every dairy animal throughout its life cycle.

The Basics

Micronutrients include trace minerals such as zinc, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, cobalt, and iodine. While it is true that trace minerals are found naturally in feed, to ensure a dairy animal is receiving enough of these critical minerals in its diet, micronutrients are added to the feed.

"Almost all the trace minerals the animal requires are provided in a supplement form," says Amanda Gehman, research project manager with Alltech. "The micronutrients that occur naturally in the feed are variable in concentration and type, so to ensure the animal is getting enough of these micronutrients, they are added to the diet."

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine establish recommendations for trace minerals. These levels help ensure the amount being supplemented is adequate for the animal, while not providing too much of the micronutrient. A critical balance exists. Too little can limit the animal's productivity and health, and too much can lead to excess excretion in manure, representing financial and environmental loss.