graze-l April 2006: [SPAM] - Re: [SPAM] - [SPAM] - RE:
[Graze-l] Cu, S, and Ca/Mg for beef and sheep - Email found in subject - Email
found in subject - Email found in subject
I agree with Oogie.
Plus, �innate ability for animals to select feed based on their
requirements� doesn�t mean that animals have the innate ability to select
MINERALS from bins based on their requirements, in fact they don�t, but have
the ability to preferably graze pastures fertilised with lime, salt, marine
reactive phosphate and selenium, that I know of.
The following is in answer to some of the emails.
Selenium
Se is an essential element (not a mineral) for humans and animals. It is an
anti-oxidant (purifier) which depresses free radicals (polluters). It is a
non-metallic element first identified in 1817. In 1930 an excess was
identified as the cause of Alkali Disease and Blind Staggers in cattle and
horses if absorbed in high amounts in extremely high Se soils in some dry
parts of North America.
In 1957 it was discovered in New Zealand to be an essential element for
animal health and that it could eliminate white muscle disease in lambs also
known as muscular dystrophy, which was common in New Zealand and in high
rainfall areas of USA and other countries. In 1960 it was found that to
work, Se needed vitamin E as they are synergistic. Animals eating green
pasture get more than enough vitamin E. Humans in deficient areas should
take Selenium ACE (vitamins A, C and E.).
In New Zealand since 1982 it has been legal to correct low Se levels in
soils by fertilising with Se. Growth rates of animals on deficient pasture
improved dramatically following the use of Se as a fertiliser at 1 kg/ha of
Selcote-Ultra that contains 10% slow-release Se. With fertilisers is the
best way to correct the deficiency and costs only NZ$8/ha (US$2/acre) once a
year. Supplementing Selovet 5 through the drinking water is another good
way.
Some NZ organic official has banned Selcote-Ultra applied at only 1 kg/ha,
because it contains man-made chemistry in minute amounts that makes it safer
to handle and slows its release, so organic farmers have to apply a fast
release Se that also leaches, so has to be applied at half a kg/ha twice a
year to keep the pasture levels up. The authority wrote, �We were allowing
Selcote-Ultra in the past, but when we checked the coating (to make it
slow-release and safer to handle), we found it has ingredients not allowed
under the NZFSA technical Rules. So we have stopped allowing it.�
The coating would be only a fraction of a kg/ha and using an uncoated
product containing sodium selenate is not as effective and potentially
dangerous when handling. Handle it with care and keep children away from it.
Practicalities with some don't seem important.
Incidentally there are no natural sources of Se suitable for supplementing
animals so none of the selenium salts used are 'natural', they are all man
made using chemical processes. So even selenised yeast would fall outside
the biogro definitions. The biogro ethics are a little hypocritical, as they
do bend on some issues. Examples include the many grasses that have been
modified to lower or even remove endophyte completely. Some people are
totally against anything which is genetically adjusted and yet they grow and
eat citrus from improved varieties grafted onto old root stock.
It is now known that Se helps many enzymes and some heart conditions, but
despite all these discoveries, and thousands of hours on research, hundreds
of papers and several books on Se world-wide since the 1960s, ignorance is
still (2006) common. There are many people who should know better, but know
or do nothing about it - almost as if Se use was being blocked in some
countries for vested interests (medical drug suppliers). Questionable animal
and human drugs are developed and promoted in some countries while
fertilising with minute amounts of a natural element is banned in some
countries including some States in USA because toxic levels in a few States
have made some people paranoid about using it, so animals suffer and farmers
lose money unnecessarily. People can drown in water, but that is not be used
to stop us swimming in it. Agricultural Research Service, USDA reported that
Se deficiency is a major problem for livestock and wildlife in at least 37
States and costs beef, dairy, sheep and horse producers an estimated $545
million (1999) in losses every year.
Finland legislated in 1984 that Se must be added to ALL fertilisers which
means that humans also benefit from it in vegetables and grain as well as in
meat from pasture fed animals. New Zealand should do the same. I fertilise
our vegetables with a marine reactive P which has 30% calcium carbonate and
I add B, elemental S, Mg, Na, Cu, Co, Zn, Se and I, based on an analysis of
our turf perennial ryegrass lawn.
Se deficiency is still (2006) a major cause of animal and human ill-health
in many countries. I�ve seen cows suffering severely from low levels (arched
backs and scouring) in USA and Switzerland, but not in New Zealand since Se
has been added to fertilisers.
Selenium strengthens muscles which hold the bones together. Without it
osteoporosis fractures are more likely because the muscles are weaker.
Sports injuries are higher as in New Zealand teams, I believe because of low
Se.
Supplementing cows that were grazing Se fertilised pastures containing 0.1
ppm in the pasture tissue, with 1 ml/cow/day of Selovet 5 (5 mg/g Se
solution for oral consumption) in Eastern Waikato, increased milk production
slightly and milk protein by 19% within seven days. The cows started to look
healthier and two to three metre long zigzag droppings in pastures (a sign
of low Se) stopped. Endophyte staggers symptoms reduced slightly within
three days.
In Mississippi, supplementing with Se reduced ryegrass staggers caused by
high endophyte. Conrad in Ohio, reported retained placentas decreasing from
38% to zero after supplementing with Se. In South Australia where ewe blood
levels were between 0.016 and 0.035 ug Se/ml, Se improved ewe fertility.
Feeding Se with swedes in Southland, NZ, improved hogget health. It has
increased ewe growth rates and wool yields by up to 12%.
Before Se fertilisers were available, a Waikato dairy farmer hired a pilot
and plane to fly him around his farm throwing out Se. He ran out when only
half the farm was done which was the back half of all paddocks. His cows
grazed the backs of each paddock shorter and his animal health improved.
At Armadale, NSW, Australia, it was found that Se deficiency was associated
with increased embryo mortality in sheep. What about human miscarriages? In
NZ the human health authorities are about 40 years behind the veterinarians
and animal health.
Halpin and others (Australia 1981) observed that the water soluble sulphur
in single Superphosphate (0-9-0-11) depressed both pasture Se levels and the
Se levels in the blood of sheep. I�ve also seen decreased Se levels in
pasture analyses after applying Superphosphate on pastures in New Zealand
and in USA. Adding a Se fertiliser with the Superphosphate, or any other
high sulphate S fertiliser helps reduce (not stop) this low Se problem, but
elemental sulphur in fertilisers as used with reactive phosphate doesn�t
lower Se because the sulphur releases slowly.
In New Zealand�s South Westland pastures where rainfall is between 4,000 and
5,000 mm (160 to 200 inches) per annum, Se fertiliser has proven highly
successful in improving animal health, as it has in dry NZ�areas getting
only (300 mm) 12 inches pa, all without any side effects or environmental
problems.
Se levels in feeds are sometimes published, but vary considerably depending
on soil levels, so they need to be checked.
Cows grazing Se fertilised pastures in Eastern Waikato containing 0.1 ppm in
the pasture tissue increased milk production slightly and milk protein by
19% within seven days of supplementing with 1 ml/cow/day of Selovet 5 (5
mg/g Se solution for oral consumption). The cows started to look healthier
and two to three metre long zigzag droppings in pastures stopped. They are a
sure sign of low Se. Endophyte staggers symptoms reduced slightly within
three days. The protein percentages have increased in dozens of Waikato, NZ
herds supplemented with Se.
Another silly rule the organic authorities have is to ban the slow release
Muriate of Potash, but allow Sulphate of Potash which is a fast release and
faster leacher. All sulphates are more soluble and leach more.
Lime and salt reduce the leaching of potash (K) so if the organic movements
encouraged their application potash would hardly be needed. I have a highly
stocked (2.8 cows/ha buying no bought in feed) dairy farmer client on peat
which is very low in K, who have not applied it for ten years, and the same
on other soils. Most farmers here apply about 60 kg/ha of K annually at an
annual cost of about $150/ha.
Some vets (and some medical doctors) have said that �Half their cases are a
result of lacking minerals�. Many trials world-wide have shown that
correcting mineral deficiencies has improved human and animal health and
increased production. I take magnesium to prevent cramp and selenium to
prevent stiff neck (and heart problems that I don�t have and don�t want).
In many areas magnesium is the main element needed, but it is so bitter that
without salt (sodium) animals won�t eat it.
Lick blocks don�t work because most animals don�t get enough. A researcher
at Cornell University said that a cow�s tongue would wear out before they
got enough. Also, some stand and lick for hours while others take none.
It is important to identify the needs on your particular farm and to
supplement with minerals and trace elements as accurately as possible.
Levels I aim for based on pasture and animal requirements in 75% ryegrass &
25% white clover are -
Nitrogen N 4.50%. Too high for animals, but necessary for optimum
growth.
Phosphorus P 0.45%
Potassium K 2.80%. Too high for animals, but necessary for optimum
growth.
Sulphur S 0.40%
Calcium Ca 0.80%
Magnesium Mg 0.24%. Could be higher, but expensive to keep there except
in some high Mg soils.
Sodium Na 0.20%. Should be higher for animals, but expensive and hard to
keep higher except on coasts.
ppm
Iron Fe 150
Manganese Mn 50
Zinc Zn 45
Copper Cu 13
Boron B 22
Molybdenum Mo 1.5
Cobalt Co 0.13
Selenium Se 0.2. Should be higher, but hard to keep up.
Aluminium Al <100
Iodine I 0.5. Very expensive to achieve this and leaches. It is better
to feed it in drinking water through a dispenser.
Before making any bulk feed purchases, always consult your vet surgeon about
the most effective, safe and cost-beneficial way of supplementing. If you
suspect that there may be a specific deficiency problem then the initial
outlay for a vet investigation with laboratory backup of the feed will pay
for itself and may save you ten-fold in unnecessary proprietary products.
There are many mineral deficiency and excess illnesses such as milk fever,
grass tetany, retained placentas, infertility, scours, sub-clinical goitre,
lowering animal production and even causing deaths. Internal parasites are
often treated when mineral deficiencies are the cause, especially when Cu
and Co are low. Lambs will not fatten if Co is low.
In New Zealand where mineral deficiencies are serious because of our
comparatively new volcanic soils, vast areas of peat and pumice that are
farmed and the whole country low in selenium, elements are applied in the
fertilisers and sometimes supplemented in the drinking water which is by far
the best way - after balanced fertilising or if not fertilising.
The importance of pasture analyses and balance is shown in the fact that
phalaris (Reed Canary grass) on low Co soils can cause phalaris staggers,
but not when Co is applied as a fertiliser.
Dolomite is found in many countries so varies in analysis, but should have
about 61% calcium carbonate (= 25% Ca), 37% Mg carbonate (=11% Mg), boron,
Cu, Mn, Zn and Mo. Carbonate forms are hard and not easily digested.
The latest research shows that one should not feed Ca and Mg together
because the Ca suppresses Mg.
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/dol_0099.shtml
Dolomite is no longer recommended as a calcium and magnesium supplement
because of possible presence of toxic metals, such as lead. Children are
especially sensitive to the effects of lead. Children, pregnant women and
nursing mothers should absolutely avoid dolomite.
Copper
Self-help loose free-choice licks can be disasters. If an animal craves
copper and sulphate of copper is in a dry loose lick it can kill itself if
eating even a little too much. Quite often the deaths are not publicised.
Cu is also a cumulative poison, in that the animal body is unable to excrete
it easily, so even slight excesses over a period can build up and become
toxic. The NZ Wallaceville Animal Laboratory some years back reported
diagnosing more cases of animal deaths from excess Cu than deaths from Cu
deficiencies.
A farmer told me that he had cows scour severely for the rest of their lives
after excess Cu was given to them on the advice of a vet who believed that
most animal health problems were from low Cu. The intestines� villi
(fingers) may have been permanently damaged, as can occur with coccidiosis
damage.
Excess Cu symptoms in all age animals include -
� Depression, anorexia, abdominal discomfort (kicking at stomach) and
jaundice from a damaged liver.
� Damaged intestines causing continued scouring.
� Damaged liver & red blood cells causing jaundice and the possibility of
death within a day.
If one animal shows Cu excess symptoms, others can be affected, so all
should then be handled quietly to avoid stress. Deaths can occur even after
the source has been removed. 1.5 grams of copper sulphate drenched once can
(not will) kill a cow. Three grams of copper sulphate/cow/day in a drench
killed 40 Waikato cows while three grams of copper sulphate spread over a
day in drinking water may not be toxic.
There is evidence that injecting Cu prior to, or during the mating period,
can adversely affect fertility, so avoid injections or supplying excessive
copper at this time. Correct the levels well before mating and well before
giving zinc for facial eczema control.
Some animals will suffer deficiencies before others, so watch for
deficiencies in the poor performers and correct these in the whole mob
before too many are affected. If one is seen usually others and overall
animal production are suffering.
Best wishes,
Vaughan Jones
Hamilton
New Zealand
