Managing the trace element nutrition of free-range grazing livestock in Australia can be challenging. 

Getting hands on the animals to administer and manage treatments is a demanding practice and takes time, manpower and can have animals off feed for extended periods of time – and these are all costs against production.

We know the importance of trace elements and the negative impacts they can have in production animals. 

Major parts of our country are deficient in one or more essential trace elements utilised in animal production, shifting the burden to producers to ensure the needs of the animals are met.

The National Research Council (NRC) established daily trace element requirements of production animals and in 2021 the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has reviewed and updated these requirements. 

The latest NASEM guidelines indicate, in relation to cattle, a 500kg animal requires the following levels of trace elements daily to meet its requirements:

Like our New Zealand neighbours, Australia is heavily reliant on free-range grazing of livestock with up to 60 per cent of total beef production (futurebeef.com.au) derived from free-range grazing. 

To maximise profitability, we need to ensure we continue to meet and maintain the trace element requirements of these animals without the labour intensity and costs associated with short term supplementation options which require regular treatments to meet the animals’ daily demands for an extended period.

Long-acting ruminal boluses are now utilised across the world for the benefits of providing trace element supplementation in a single application. 

The use of long-acting bolus products provides a significant advantage against alternative types of trace element supplementation practices such as top-dressing pastures, injectables, water-based products, blocks and loose feed additives. 

While all have a fit in various management practices, only a long-acting bolus product provides the peace of mind that every animal is treated with the same dose, every animal is on a level playing field, and every animal is covered for the season with the products with which they were treated – no misses no exceptions.

Pacific Biologics now provides a complete range of long-acting bolus products which cover both the beef and sheep sectors in the Australian market. 

All products are registered with the APVMA, providing producers with the confidence that the products perform as required. 

Some products even carry full organic registration for use in Australian and US markets says Mark Jones of Pacific Biologics.

“With a portfolio of long-acting bolus for both cattle and sheep, Pacific Biologics continues to develop the range of nutritional bolus products on offer for Australian producers,” Mr Jones said.

“Products which instil confidence that every animal is covered, every hour of every day,” he adds.

“Long-term supplementation balances the ups and downs of trace element requirements and allows producers to focus on maximising production gains without having the need to handle animals all the time. 

“It is our focus to provide producers with products that meet their animal’s production requirements with minimal interruption to continued grazing practices. 

“Cows produce when they are in the paddock with their heads down – the need to yard and handle cattle for regular injections or the hit and miss nature of free adlib access to supplements can affect overall production goals. 

“Australian producers are in the business of making milk, meat and wool it’s our job to provide profitable products that support this endeavour.”