Leading animal health company, Elanco, has broadened its ruminant nutritional portfolio with the release of a new five-way mineral and vitamin booster, MultiBoost with B12.
This patent-pending formulation contains four essential trace minerals and Vitamin B12 in a convenient, low-volume injection.
MultiBoost with B12 has been specifically developed to support metabolic function in beef and dairy cattle during periods of high energy demand or stress.
It contains 40 g/L zinc (as disodium zinc EDTA), 15 g/L copper (as disodium copper EDTA), 10 g/L manganese (as disodium manganese EDTA), 5 g/L selenium (as sodium selenite) and 1.4 g/L cyanocobalamin (a form of Vitamin B12).
Elanco cattle brand manager Kim Krilich says MultiBoost with B12 helps to optimise the health, fertility and performance of beef and dairy cattle by addressing potential sub-clinical mineral deficiencies.
“Sub-clinical mineral deficiencies can occur during periods of high energy demand, such as in young, growing cattle or during mating, calving and lactation,” she says.
“The availability of trace minerals can also decline at certain times of the year, such as when cattle are grazing lush, rapidly-growing pastures.
“Sub-clinical mineral deficiencies can also occur during prolonged wet conditions or stressful periods, such as weaning, when feed intake can be reduced.
“Administered as a subcutaneous injection before critical periods of the production cycle, MultiBoost with B12 provides beef and dairy producers with a convenient way to boost essential trace minerals and Vitamin B12 in cattle when they need it most.”
Many soil types and forages found throughout Australia are known to be deficient in certain minerals, placing livestock at risk of clinical mineral deficiencies.
“Beef and dairy cattle grazing in regions known to be deficient in cobalt, copper, and selenium should be treated with a registered therapy that treats and controls that specific mineral deficiency,” Kim says.
“Individual treatment of animals using a registered therapy is a more reliable and effective method of supplementing trace minerals and vitamins than feed or water additives.”
Suitable options include Selovin LA injection, Cobalife VB12 injection, Cobalife VB12 Plus Selenium injection and Copperplan 20 copper capsules from Elanco.
Selovin LA injection (50 mg/mL barium selenate) treats and prevents selenium deficiency in cattle for up to 12 months, and in sheep for up to 18 months.
Cobalife VB12 injection (2 mg/mL hydroxocobalamin) treats and controls Vitamin B12 deficiency in cattle and sheep for two to six months, depending on the severity of the deficiency.
Cobalife VB12 Plus Selenium injection (2 mg/mL hydroxocobalamin and 4 mg/mL selenium as sodium selenate) treats and controls Vitamin B12 and selenium deficiency in cattle and sheep for two to six months, depending on the severity of the deficiency.
Copperplan 20 copper capsules (16 g copper as cupric oxide needles) treat and prevent copper deficiency in adult cattle (> 200 kg) for up to 12 months.
“We recommend you consult your veterinarian or animal health advisor to determine the mineral status of your livestock before administering a mineral supplement,” Kim says.
“This will help identify whether a multi-mineral booster and/or deficiency treatment would be most appropriate for your livestock.
“It’s important that you don’t 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.”
(Always read and follow the label directions. Results may vary based on current mineral status and additional sources of trace minerals).
