22 Nebraska Cattleman November 2023 WE HAVE YOUR BACKS, BARNS AND BOTTOM LINES. LIPHATECH.COM 800.351.1476 PLEASE YOUR MIND As farmers and producers, you know best that a good, quality food product means everything to the consumer. And with Liphatech Ag rodenticide solutions, the security of your output is in good hands. Our team will stop at nothing to help protect the hard work of farmers and producers. “One should also keep in mind that water can also be a source of sulfur, and if the water source is high in sulfate, then additional copper will be needed,” Drewnoski says. “Due to the higher sulfur content of distillers grains and corn-condensed distillers solubles – otherwise known as corn syrup – extra copper may also be needed when feeding diets containing significant amounts of these products.” Checking the concentration of a freechoice mineral is not enough to know whether it will be the correct solution for a copper deficiency in the herd. “Different mineral sources have different availability to the animal, and this is called bioavailability,” Drewnoski explains. “In general, inorganic sources are the most cost-effective means of supplying minerals to a beef cow.” She says the best inorganic source of copper is copper sulfate, because it is 100 percent bioavailable. Zinc Zinc is also critical for calves’ immune systems, and it also contributes to reproductive health in cows. Drewnoski says research shows that grass samples submitted by Nebraska producers displayed interesting results. Eighty percent of the samples had less than the amount of zinc required for beef cows, and only about 50 percent of that was available for absorption by the animal. “When grazing green pasture, supplementing about 50 percent of the zinc requirement will usually be sufficient,” Drewnoski says. “The zinc content of forages decreases with plant maturity so, when using low-quality forages such as straw, corn residue or winter range, the upper range of zinc concentration may be needed.” The most common inorganic sources of zinc are zinc sulfate, zinc oxide and zinc carbonate. Organic sources include zinc methionine, zinc lysine and zinc proteinate. Drewnoski says organic sources are typically more bioavailable, but they do cost more on average. Magnesium Magnesium is needed in higher quantities during lactation because of milk production. A magnesium deficiency, known as grass tetany, is common during cool-season grazing because these grasses usually contain higher amounts of nitrogen and potassium. Even though these grasses are known to have the required level of magnesium, nitrogen and potassium inhibit the absorption of magnesium in beef cattle. “Mineral supplements with greater magnesium concentrations should be CONSIDERATIONS FOR A MINERAL SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
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