In some areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory, overnight temperatures can remain hot and humid for extended periods contributing to heat stress and exacerbating conditions such as leaky gut in cattle.
With 70 per cent of immune system functionality residing in the gastrointestinal tract, leaky gut can have a significant impact upon an animal’s immune system consequently affecting production.
With 23 years of experience in ruminant nutrition Elders livestock production manager Todd Donaldson has worked alongside Olsson’s to develop Kemtrace, a lick block containing chromium, an essential mineral for cattle health.
Mr Donaldson explains this new adaptation will help increase glucose utilisation, reducing the effects of both heat and cold stress and flowing on to lessen the risk of other health conditions too.
“The first thing that really caught my eye with chromium was the ability to stimulate insulin receptors and increase glucose availability.
“And the deeper I have gone into the research, the more I realised leaky gut can become a real problem and heat stressed cows are at a much higher risk,” Mr Donaldson said.
Leaky gut is a condition where bad bacteria and toxins are let into the animal’s wider system.
The animal then goes into an immune response to try to remove the toxins, using significant nutrients, which would normally go towards producing fat, muscle, or milk.
This is where producers can see declines in the health of the animal and the overall productivity of the herd.
When a cow’s regular diet is supplemented with Kemtrace, stress can be minimised and energy levels optimised reducing the risk of leaky gut developing.
Mr Donaldson said climatic conditions in extensive grazing systems may reduce the level of heat stress like breeze and shaded areas, however there are also conditions like hot winds which increase heat stress.
“This is where I plan to further develop the product and delivery methods to capture data.
“Kemtrace stimulates insulin receptors, allowing more opened pathways in the animals cells so that more glucose and therefore energy, can be absorbed into its cells system, in turn removing impacts of that stress.”
Though Kemtrace contains a great range of benefits, Mr Donladson said Elders is really getting in on the ground floor with this new product.
“This kind of supplement has existed in the feedlot and dairy industry for some time. It has been used by a few select nutritionists in total mixed rations but we are really trying to bring it into the mainstream, pioneering its extension."
