All classes of livestock require a mineral and vitamin boost now

HVS Animal Health is reminding flock owners that both ewes and lambs traditionally require a mineral and vitamin boost in late June and early July.
Paul Elwood of HVS Animal HealthPaul Elwood of HVS Animal Health
Paul Elwood of HVS Animal Health

“And particularly this year, given the very cold Spring and the very challenging start to the 2018 grazing season,” added the company’s Paul Elwood.

“An effective mineral and vitamin boost will help ensure that mid and late season lambing ewes will maintain an optimum milk supply.

“For early lambing flocks weaning will soon be taking place. Providing these ewes and lambs with a boost at this time will help maximise future flock fertility levels while 
ensuring that lamb growth rates are maximised post weaning.”

Paul went on to point out that the Liquid Gold range, from HVS, will supply all the minerals and essential vitamins required by both ewes and lambs.

He continued: “The products represent the next generation in chelated mineral and vitamin drenches.

“Increasingly, farmers must seek to maximise the performance of their livestock. The Liquid Gold range has been developed to meet this specific requirement.”

Where sheep are concerned Liquid Gold can be used for lambs to improve daily liveweight gain. Trial work has confirmed an extra 1.24 kg in five weeks. Lambs at three months of age get a 10ml dose. Getting lambs finished earlier should ensure a better return per animal.

“Liquid Gold can also be given to lambs, from one month of age onwards,” Paul Elwood further explained.

He added that cattle farmers must also seek to maximise the performance of their livestock at this time of the year.

“Liquid Gold Cattle has been developed to meet this specific requirement,” he said.

“The reality is that an animal can only perform to the level of the greatest deficiency or imbalance in its diet. All forage based diets can contain major mineral imbalances and consequently most stock never achieve their genetic potential in terms of growth, fertility, development of immunity etc.”

Paul said that for trace elements to be available to stock, they must be of high quality and must link up with one or more amino acids or peptides in the rumen prior to being absorbed through the gut wall into the blood stream.

“Cattle are not ideally equipped to effect this “link up” and a significant proportion of trace elements and vitamins supplied in conventional form, pass straight through the body and are excreted.”

For further information, contact HVS Animal Health on (028) 44831700