Selenium, Micro and Macromineral levels and Supplementation Strategies at Pasture, and Their Impact on Backgrounder Cattle Performance

Transcription

1 Selenium, Micro and Macromineral levels and Supplementation Strategies at Pasture, and Their Impact on Backgrounder Cattle Performance Christoph Wand 1 and Peter Kotzeff 2 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food - Guelph, ON Kotzeff Veterinary Services & Chesley Veterinary Management Chesley, ON

2 Background More effort to match CP & P allowances to actual requirements, especially in feedlot Mineral supplementation on pasture in other jurisdictions (NZ, Michigan) is done using tracemineralized salt, as opposed to complete vitamin-mineral premix as used in confinement Selenium is considered deficient in Great Lakes Basin Vitamins largely not required due to combination of sun and fresh forage

3 Objectives: 1. Determine the effectiveness of selenium pellets,tm resin boluses, and feeding of trace-mineralized (TM) salt on pasture as the sole Se, mineral and Vitamin E sources 2. Pasture monitoring (feed anaylsis) for TMs was undertaken to explain the conditions cattle experience 3. Sampling of pastures of other producers, properties and sward types in 2012

4 Also referred to as Iron: Selenium pellets as they contain 90% iron to give the product weight to prevent it from being regurgitated. Last as Also referred to as Iron: Selenium pellets Composed of 90% Fe to give them adequate weight Slowly dissolved in the reticulorumen to release a continual supply of Se Advised to administer every months FARMRITE

5 TM Bolus

6 Customer Formulation TM Salt

7 North Farm, June 9 th 2011

8 Kuepfer June 9 th, 2011

9 Lockerby August 8 th, 2011

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12 14 Farms Sampled, Bi-weekly 2012

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17 % Calcium 2012 requirement = 0.35% May June Week 1 June Week 2 July Week 1 July Week 2 August Week 1 August Week 2 August Week Lockerby North Farm River Ridge Twin Pines Willowdale Stonewall Haines Home SE Ranch Seventh The Boys' Mackie Warder Home JM Trefoil Kentucky Bluegrass Alfalfa Canary Grass White Clover Ryegrass Orchard Grass Knapweed Steve Paisley Knapweed

18 % Phosphorus 2012 requirement = 0.2% May June Week 1 June Week 2 July Week 1 July Week 2 August Week 1 August Week 2 August Week Lockerby North Farm River Ridge Twin Pines Willowdale Stonewall Haines Home SE Ranch Seventh The Boys' Mackie Warder Home JM Trefoil Kentucky Bluegrass Alfalfa Canary Grass White Clover Ryegrass Orchard Grass Knapweed Steve Paisley Knapweed

19 Lockerby % Potassium 2012 requirement = 0.6% North Farm River Ridge Twin Pines May June Week 1 June Week 2 July Week 1 July Week 2 August Week 1 August Week 2 August Week 3 Willowdale Stonewall Haines Home SE Ranch Seventh The Boys' Mackie Warder Home JM Trefoil Kentucky Bluegrass Alfalfa Canary Grass White Clover Ryegrass Orchard Grass Knapweed Steve Paisley Knapweed

20 Conclusions Macro-minerals minerals (Ca, P, K, Mg) are at sufficient levels in the 2011 and 2012 forage samples on these farms Several micro-minerals are also sufficient with some even well above the recommendations of NRC 1996 (Fe, Mo) Copper is widely deficient, with likelihood of increased effective deficiency due to ample Molybdenum on these farms Zinc is also widely deficient

21 Conclusions Patterns of sufficiency and insufficiency are widely conserved in this geographic area Salt (Na) universally deficient Trace mineralized salt is an adequate form of supplementation provided it is formulated to address shortfalls. In this case: copper, zinc and selenium shortfalls localized concerns eg manganese

22 River Ridge Sept 7 th, 2011

23 Procedure: Animal Performance Cattle were purchased from various sources including Western Canada, Ottawa Valley and local sales Weights were taken at turn-out and off-grass processing, and through the feedlot In spring of 2011 approximately 750 head: 1/3 of animals allocated to each Se pellets, TM resin boluses, and neither. All animals offered free choice custom TM salt In spring of 2013 approximately 550 head: 1/2 of animals allocated to either TM resin boluses, or not. All animals offered free-choice custom TM salt

24 Results: 2011 ADG Control Se Pellet TM Bolus Treatment ADG LSMEAN Standard Error P Control 1.58 a,b <.0001 Se Pellet 1.53 a <.0001 TM Bolus 1.71 b <.0001

25 2011 and 2012 Combined Pasture Performance (ADG) Treatment ADG LSMEAN LSMEAN Number TM Salt Se Pellet TM Bolus Least Squares Means for effect Treatment Pr > t for H0: LSMean(i)=LSMean(j) i/j

26 2011 Results: ADG by Pasture Pasture Farm ADG LSMEANS Standard Error P Value Kuepfer <.0001 Lockerby <.0001 North Farm <.0001 Paisley <.0001 River Ridge <.0001 Stonewall <.0001 Twin Pine <.0001 Willowdale < Kuepfer Lockerby North Farm Paisley River Ridge Stonewall Twin Pine Willowdale

27 2011 and 2012 Feedlot Performance Data Treatment ADG Feedlot LSMEAN LSMEAN Number TM salt Se Pellet TM Bolus Least Squares Means for effect Treatment Pr > t for H0: LSMean(i)=LSMean(j) i/j

28 Other Observations No treatment impact on finishing weight in 2011 or 2012 No treatment impact on carcass weight in 2012 (manner of settlement different) No difference in gain at pasture vs. feedlot (compensation) due to treatment Large difference in both years by pasture location and purchase groups (interactions, unbalanced effects)

29 Conclusions TM supplementation strategy (Bolus vs TM salt) had no effect on pasture ADG TM supplementation strategy had no effect on subsequent feedlot performance TM supplementation strategy had no effect on slaughter end point and/or carcass merit

30 Implications TM salt at pasture was an effective mineral supplementation approach; forage analysis ensured macro-mineral sufficiency TM salt as the sole mineral supplement at pasture had no negative impact on gain, subsequent feedlot performance or carcass merit Ontario producers should consider forage sampling for macro-minerals (micros?) and adjust their supplementation protocol accordingly for potentially significant savings

31 Thank You! Pasture Farm Cooperators PKW Feedlot & Staff Summer Students & Staff Peter Kotzeff OCA/BFO Farm Innovation Program