Good Afternoon List Friends,
Usually I repost other peoples information that I hope may be of
interest. This time I would like to report my experience with "free
choice minerals"!
As a new B.Sc. graduate in 1956, with an animal science specialty in
nutrition, I went back to the farm and took over the management of our
small dairy operation of about 30 cows. During my undergraduate years I
focused more on our family purebred beef operation and the nutritional
requirements of beef cows. As a result I wasn't really up on the needs
of my dairy cows. I didn't, however, know that at the time.
I knew that the cows required a calcium/phosphorus supplement so I
purchased one with the proper proportions and made it available free
choice to my dairy cows in the exercise yard. This was about the same
time that we started using artificial insemination in our dairy herd
(1956). One day our AI technician (my brother-in-law) reported that we
had the poorest conception rate in the whole AI unit. It was about
45%. He suggested that I contact our veterinarian. Our vet did some
examinations and reported that, from his experience, the cows appeared
to be phosphorus deficient. He had also noticed the cows in the
exercise yard eating dirt and chewing on sticks of wood!
He suggested that free choice minerals were the culprit. We started
incorporating the mineral mix in the grain mix at rates that would meet
the dairy cows' requirements and within a month or so our conception
rate was back up to almost 70%. Free choice minerals was indeed the
cause of our conception rate problem.
I learned an important lesson that my university education had not
taught me everything I needed to know!!!!! Experience in this case was
a much more effective teacher.
FWIW
Regards
Ross Gould P.Ag.
Calgary, Alberta
FW Owen wrote:
>
> > (including a belief that animals do know their dietary
> > requirements but usually don't have a choice)
>
> Hi,
>
> This is ridiculous.
>
> Two main minerals make up 3/4's of the minerals in a cow's
> body, and 1/2 the minerals in milk. These are calcium and
> phosphorus.
>
> The ratio of these two should be within certain limits. A
> excess of one, even though the other is about right is
> detrimental. Particularly to the reproductive efficiency of
> dairy cows.
>
> Cows offered cafeteria minerals will consume the most
> palatable minerals. Usually the one mixed with molasses
> and/or salt, if such a choice is present.
>
> If those consumed happen to bring the proportion of CA and
> Phos into about the right ratio, then all is well.
>
> But if the most palatable minerals happen to throw the
> ration further off, we are in serious trouble, and so are
> the cows.
>
> It is very common, about 50%, that the wrong mineral choice
> is the most palatable and the ratio of is thrown very wide.
>
> The cows simply do not know what is in the minerals they are
> eating. The idea that there is some kind of a telepathic
> recognition of mineral analysis is totally ridiculous.
>
> The idea that this telepathic ability is "fine tuned" over
> time by internal "feelings" in the cow by the is even more
> ridiculous.
>
> There is such a thing as a "depraved appetite" that
> sometimes occurs with cows, possibly caused by mineral
> balance, or other metabolic disease, that leads to
> consumption of all kinds of bizarre muck like carrion or
> anti-freeze or even paper towels. This is not evidence
> that a cow can balance a ration.
>
> Healthy cows (and unhealthy) will sometimes chew bones. I
> don't consider this as "depraved". It's just something
> that cows do occasionally. Even perfectly normal and
> healthy cows sometimes do this. However this is not
> evidence that cows can balance a ration.
>
> -
> Salt is universally deficient in all practical ration and
> definitely should be offered free choice to dairy cows.
>
> If anything else is offered free choice, at the very least,
> it should be mixed so that the ratio of Ca and Phos in the
> mineral mix tends to correct the ration in the overall
> ration.
> --
> Kindest regards,
>
> =======================
> F. W. Owen
> Owenlea Holsteins
> 9430 Spencer Road
> Homerville, Ohio 44235
> e-mail fwo@bright.net
> home page http://www.bright.net/~fwo
> voice & fax 330.625.2369
> =======================
>
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