Providing weaner cattle with a multi-mineral and vitamin B12 supplement is the ideal way to boost their growth and health during one of the most stressful periods of their lives.
Elanco cattle brand manager Kim Krilich says cattle require a range of essential trace minerals, including cobalt, copper, manganese, selenium and zinc, to optimise metabolic function and to support health, fertility and production.
“The importance of mineral supplementation in regions which are known to be deficient in certain minerals is well known,” Kim says.
“However, cattle can also be exposed to sub-clinical mineral deficiencies if they cannot meet their nutritional requirements from their feed intake,” she says.
“This can occur during periods of high energy demand, such as growth, mating, calving and lactation, or certain times of the year when the availability of trace minerals in pastures can decline.
“Sub-clinical deficiencies can also occur during periods of reduced feed intake, such as prolonged wet or cold conditions, or after weaning.”
Kim says providing a supplementary source of Vitamin B12 is particularly beneficial in supporting high growth rates and immune function in young, rapidly-growing cattle. 1
“Weaners can be under enormous pressure from a range of metabolic, social and parasitic challenges,” Kim explains.
“In a very short period of time, they have experienced the stress of removal from their mothers and often have to co-mingle with other animals from different cohorts,” she says.
“This can be compounded by handling and transport at this time.
“They are also susceptible to greater disease and parasite burdens due to their low natural immunity.
“Finally, they are still in the process of moving from a milk-pasture diet to an entirely grass-based diet.
“Vitamin B12 has a role in energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, nervous system function and reproduction,” Kim adds.
“Young cattle have lower reserves of Vitamin B12 in their liver, making them more susceptible to deficiency at this time. 2
“Breeding cows can also benefit from Vitamin B12 supplementation to support health and production during high energy demand periods, such as mating, gestation, calving and lactation – which is pretty much the whole year round,” she says.
MultiBoost with B12 is a five-way mineral and vitamin booster helping optimise the health, fertility and performance of beef and dairy cattle.
It contains 40g/L zinc (as disodium zinc EDTA), 15g/L copper (as disodium copper EDTA), 10g/L manganese (as disodium manganese EDTA), 5g/L selenium (as sodium selenite) and 1.4g/L cyanocobalamin (a form of Vitamin B12).
MultiBoost with B12 is administered as a low-volume subcutaneous injection before critical periods of the production cycle, such as weaning, mating and calving.
The dose rate is 1mL/50kg for cattle up to one year old, 1mL/75kg for cattle 1-2 years old and 1mL/100kg for cattle two years and older.
Kim says MultiBoost with B12 is best used to address sub-clinical mineral deficiencies.
“MultiBoost with B12 is designed to ‘top up’ the animal’s levels of essential minerals at key stages of the production cycle,” she says.
“It has a minimum re-retreatment interval of eight weeks, with the treatment frequency depending on the nutritional status of livestock.
“Beef and dairy cattle in regions known to be deficient in cobalt, copper or selenium should be treated with a long-acting mineral supplement that addresses that specific mineral deficiency.”
Suitable options include Selovin LA injection, Cobalife VB12 injection, Cobalife VB12 Plus Selenium injection and Copperplan 20 copper capsules from Elanco.
“Producers should consult their veterinarian or animal health advisor to determine the mineral status of their livestock and what is the best solution to address it,” Kim says.
“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.”
Contact your local Elanco representative or Customer Service team on 1800 995 709 for further information about mineral supplementation in cattle.
Always read and follow the label directions. Results may vary based on current mineral status and additional sources of trace minerals.
References: 1. National Research Council. (2000). Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle: 7th Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/9791. 2. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 2021. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Eighth Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
