Calcium essential for dry cows
Are your dry cows receiving adequate calcium levels in their forage? Some grass samples are testing as low as 0.3%, half the recommended level of 0.6%, according to Scotmin nutritionist Neil Dale.
Despite low calcium levels not normally being a problem in dry cows, he has seen increasing levels throughout the year, resulting in increased probability of milk fever and retained cleansings.
And coupled with samples testing high for potassium, a known inhibiter of calcium absorption in dry cows, levels could be even lower.
“Potassium levels are testing as high as 6% on some farms, where they should only be 2%, which means actual available calcium is deficient in many herds,” he says.
“There should be 70-100g calcium available in feed, but some diets analyse at only 30g. In these cases, dry cow minerals are not sufficient to make up for calcium deficiencies, so limestone flour should be added to diets at an average of 50g a day,” adds Mr Dale.
“Declining copper levels in forage, alongside increased levels of iron and aluminium – known for their antagonistic effects – means producers should also continue to consider copper supplementation.”
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