"Dietary deficiencies in single or multiple trace elements can have profound effects on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle. Infertility, decreased conception rate, anoestrus and delayed onset of puberty in cattle has previously been reported to be associated with clinical copper deficiency and high dietary molybdenum intakes"¹.

When dairy farmer James Garry experienced issues with herd fertility and health, poor milking and a traumatic calving season, he made it is his mission to find and resolve the underlying cause. What ensued was a deep dive into the area of trace element nutrition, the role of molybdenum on his herd's performance, and the discovery of unique trace element bolus which he credits with saving his business.

Whether your main enterprise is beef or dairy, it is a well-documented fact that ensuring the optimum trace element status in your herd is critical to optimise productivity and to promote fertility.

Where some farmers struggle is in differentiating between the plethora of nutritional products available; from free access systems such as licks and blocks, to injections, feed supplements and boluses.

To shed some light on the issue, Bimeda Professional Services Veterinarian, Rachel Mallet, here talks about some of the key trace element deficiencies in cattle, and the options to address these.

Bimeda are pleased to launch two new videos, which explain how to correctly administer our soluble glass boluses for sheep and cattle. Padraig Hyland, former Technical Vet for Bimeda, features in the video, commented, ‘when it comes to bolusing, correct application is the key to success. That’s why we have launched these two videos which show the correct method to administer our sheep and cattle boluses (Zincosel, Cosecure and Coseicure). It is vital that the boluses are brought to room temperature before application and that they are administered as demonstrated in these videos’.

You can find the videos on the How to Administer page of the website.

Interested in the theme of mineral deficiencies in dairy cattle? Read on. Vet Pat Noonan talks in this month’s Veterinary Journal Ireland, about mineral deficiencies in dairy cattle, with particular focus on the role of copper and molybdenum.

Acquisition of bolus with unique delivery technology to enhance ruminant product range

Bimeda announced today that is has acquired UK based Telsol Limited. Telsol manufacture and market a range of large animal boluses that deliver superior benefits to livestock in the areas of weight gain and fertility, in particular.

When you think of Pilkington Glass, what do you think about? Double-glazing? Probably. Conservatories? Possibly. What about animal health? Unlikely. However, Pilkington Glass is partially to thank for the reliability of trace element supplementation in cattle and sheep. A unique partnership between Pilkington Glass and Animal Nutrition experts at the University of Leeds, resulted in the development of a revolutionary soluble glass bolus which has been used worldwide. To find out more about this revolutionary technology, read on.

High levels of molybdenum, sulphur or iron can lead to copper deficiency symptoms

Mr Davies farms beef and sheep on a hill farm in Mid-Wales. The ground has been improved and both nitrogen fertiliser and lime have been applied, although it is some years since lime was put down.