Nutrition Articles
Mineral Deficiencies
Minerals and trace minerals are needed year round by livestock for optimum production, health and fertility.
Bighead in Horses
Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (NSH) is most commonly referred to by the name “Bighead” or sometimes “Bran Disease” and is a condition that develops as a result of a calcium imbalance within the horse’s diet.
Minerals – Their function
To maintain optimum health all animals’ require a balanced diet receiving adequate levels of all nutrient classes on a daily basis. The major nutrients required are: Water, energy, protein, fat, fibre, minerals, electrolytes and vitamins.
Magnesium
Magnesium (Mg) is an essential macro mineral closely associated with calcium and phosphorus. Mg is involved in numerous functions in the body with 60-70% of the mineral being found in the skeleton, with the remainder being distributed in the soft tissue…
Winter & Dry Feed
Supplement early to avoid loss of condition in your livestock and generate profits throughout Winter and drought conditions. Lack of protein and minerals in drought affected or frosted pasture decreases rumen microbe activity, slowing digestion down to the…
Rumen Microbes
Rumen microbes require protein (Nitrogen) to build up their numbers. Urea (non-protein Nitrogen) is often the only source of Nitrogen provided in dry feed supplements. Because rumen microbes rapidly break down this form of Nitrogen…
Forage Sorghum
Plants in the sorghum family contain a toxic substance called prussic acid. Sulphur is the major mineral stock require to detoxify prussic acid and to reduce the risk of cyanide poisoning. Because forage sorghum has a low Sulphur content the animal draws on…
Green Drought & Early Weaning
There is a significant risk to stock during the immediate period following enough rain to generate a short green pick. This situation can be harder on your stock than the actual ‘dry’ drought. Several issues arise in a green drought. After extended periods of drought…
Buffalo Fly & Parasites
For many years Sulphur has been considered to reduce internal and external parasites such as worms, cattle ticks, lice and buffalo fly. Research from South America has now proven that Sulphur can increase stock resistance to cattle tick. In these trials, there was…
Grass Tetany/Green Feed
Preceded by low blood Magnesium levels, Grass Tetany (hypomagnesaemia) may occur throughout the year on both tropical and temperate pastures. Symptoms include restlessness, staggers, over-alertness or even aggressiveness. In severe cases, livestock…
Weight Gain
With the grass green in many areas and the price for cattle at long last having the potential to provide a better income, there are a number of things that you can do to assist maximum weight gain for your stock…
UNE University Trials
Trials performed by Dr Lewis Kahn, at the University of New England have shown that MegaMin Loose Supplement provides a SAFE, ECONOMICAL and EFFECTIVE alternative to the use of UREA for winter and drought feeding as well as a natural alternative to products…