Animal health advisors have a key role in reminding their customers to monitor mineral levels in their livestock and to take steps to address any potential deficiencies.
Elanco brand manager Kim Krilich says trace mineral deficiencies can occur in all classes of sheep and cattle.
“Livestock often experience nutritional stress when they are under prolonged periods of stress due to adverse weather, poor feed quality, or low feed intake.
“Ewes and cows face the added physiological demands of pregnancy, lambing or calving.
“Likewise, young livestock have a high demand for essential minerals to support their high growth rates and higher risk of challenge from parasites, disease or stress associated with handling, husbandry practices, transportation or feedlot induction.
“This means spring is a peak period for nutritional stress, particularly as the availability of trace minerals is reduced in rapidly-growing pastures.”
Sheep and cattle require a range of essential trace minerals, including selenium, cobalt and copper, to support a number of metabolic functions for optimal health, fertility and performance.
Selenium is vital for metabolism, growth, immunity and fertility.
Cobalt is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin B12, which is required for various metabolic functions, including fat and carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis and glucose production.
Copper has an important role in enzyme function, metabolism, blood cell development and maintaining the integrity of the nervous and immune system.
Ms Krilich said trace mineral deficiency can occur if livestock do not consume sufficient quantities of these micronutrients from either pasture or supplementary rations.
“An MLA report on mineral deficiencies has found many soil types found throughout Australia, such as sandy coastal, acidic or granite soils, do not contain sufficient levels of essential minerals.
“Trace mineral levels can also be adversely impacted by leaching due to high rainfall, intensive cropping, high application rates of nitrogen, phosphate or lime fertilisers, or the presence of other minerals.”
Ms Krilich said selenium deficiency can be determined using a simple diagnostic blood test.
“Elanco provides a free diagnosis service for livestock producers who wish to determine the selenium status of their sheep and cattle.
“Last year, our team of territory managers and technical consultants conducted more than 100 tests, which showed that selenium deficiency can and does occur in regions that are otherwise not recognised as being ‘selenium deficient’.”
She said vitamin B12, or copper levels are best determined by liver analysis, with samples collected by biopsy, at abattoir or autopsy.
If livestock are deficient, supplementation can help to improve feed utilisation, body condition, reproductive performance, foetal development, milk production, growth rates and immune function.
Livestock in regions that are known to be deficient in selenium, cobalt and/or copper should be treated with long-acting supplements to ensure a steady and consistent supply of these trace minerals throughout the year.
Alternatively, shorter-acting supplements can be administered at strategic times of the production cycle when livestock may experience short-term nutritional stress, such as before joining, lambing/calving, marking/weaning or at feedlot induction.
“Do not provide mineral supplements to livestock whose mineral status is unknown or to livestock that are receiving other sources of minerals via supplementary rations, vaccines, drenches or pasture dressings, as toxicity may result,” Ms Krilich said.
“However, animals suspected of vitamin B12 deficiency can be safely treated with a suitable supplement and their response observed, as there is no harm in dosing animals that are not deficient.”
Elanco markets a range of trace mineral solutions that address selenium, cobalt and copper deficiency, including Selovin LA, Cobalife VB12, Cobalife VB12 Plus Selenium and Copperplan 20.
A single subcutaneous injection of Selovin LA will elevate blood selenium levels for up to 18 months in sheep and 12 months in cattle.
Cobalife VB12 treats and prevents vitamin B12 deficiency in sheep and cattle for two to six months, depending on the severity of deficiency, while Cobalife VB12 Plus Selenium also addresses selenium deficiency.
Both injectable products contain hydroxocobalamin, a longer-acting form of vitamin B12 compared to the common alternative, cyanocobalamin. This has been confirmed by a 2021 pilot study comparing cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin trace mineral injection in cattle published in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology Therapeutics.
Copperplan 20 is an oral capsule that prevents copper deficiency in adult cattle (over 200kg) for up to 12 months.
Administered using a Copperplan applicator, the gelatine capsule dissolves in the rumen and releases copper oxide particles into the digestive tract.
Ms Krilich said it’s recommended to always read and follow the label directions. Contact Elanco for a free diagnosis service to assist in detecting mineral deficiencies in livestock.
