Minerals and trace elements may not be the issue
When productivity drops, or farmers are looking to improve the nutrition levels of the feed their stock are getting, people often look at mineral deficiencies first. And it's well known that copper, cobalt, iodine and selenium are critical trace elements that are often deficient in New Zealand farmland (Grace, 1983). But that doesn't mean every farm is deficient, or even that every field on farms with known issues is deficient.
This is why getting pasture analysis done in different seasons a great idea to get hard information on your property, and to understand how much the nutrients vary with seasonal changes (green grass to dry, etc). Pasture testing is essential to determine the extent of any mineral deficiencies and if there are any interactions happening which may impact nutrient availability.
Mineral deficiencies are a serious issue, especially if your animals are getting lower than required levels of magnesium and calcium - but they are just part of the picture.
Look at the ratio of dry matter to protein
We find that in most farms, an unexpected drop off in productivity is normally due to the wrong levels of dry matter, protein and energy in the animals diets.
Animals need a high enough level of protein in their diet in order to:
a) have a well functioning rumen which digests food effectively, produces energy and supports the immune system
b) provide amino acids for cell repair and muscle mass.
Check your stock feed's Crude Protein and Metabolisable energy levels per kilo of dry matter.
The more digestible a feed is (lower Neutral Detergent Fibre), the more accessible its nutrients are to the animal, so pay attention to the NDF percentage too.
Good feed quality is key
Feeding your animals a high quality feed means they need to eat less to meet their nutritional requirements, ensuring that their daily protein and energy needs are fulfilled. For smaller animals with smaller rumen which fill faster, high quality forage and feed are especially important to make sure they get the nutrition they need before they are full and stop eating.
