Cattle fertility, conception and weight gains revealed by latest Multimin Performance Ready Challenger
Announcement posted by Virbac Australia Pty Ltd 05 Feb 2019
South Australian farm manager Craig Brewin has announced the latest round of results from the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge, a 12-month program run by animal health company Virbac Australia.
The Multimin Performance Ready Challenge has given seven Australian farmers the chance to experience first-hand the benefits of Multimin trace mineral injection. Challengers receive 12 months of free Multimin product and a tailored nutrition program developed by leading industry mentors.
With each challenger sharing their program results and experiences, Craig has been paying particular attention to how Multimin contributes to increased fertility, conception and weight gain, supported by expert advice from mentor Dr Colin Trengove, Vet, University of Adelaide lecturer, and Managing Director of Pro Ag Consulting.
Operating from Maranoa Downs, 20km west of Naracoorte SA, Craig runs predominately Angus cows, which are joined to Wagyu bulls to produce feedlot-entry cattle. After running multiple trace element tests on cattle of various age groups over the years, Craig discovered ongoing issues with cobalt, selenium, copper and manganese deficiencies in many of his animals. Under the guidance of Multimin mentor Dr Colin Trengove, Craig decided to trial the effects of Multimin on the general health and weight gain of his calves.
Craig explains how the trial was conducted. “We treated 50% of our calves with Multimin at marking and weaning and plan to treat the same calves again 3 months post weaning. The other 50% were left untreated and used as a control mob. When comparing the weights of the treated and untreated steers in August 2018 and again in January 2019, and we found a modest weight gain advantage in the treated steers. Although weight gain increases are not always attributed to trace minerals, it is possible that Multimin helped improved the immune function of the steers, and hence provided them with a better opportunity to grow. Unquestionably, the general appearance of the treated calves has also improved, and it’s clear from this result that Multimin’s impact on immunity gave our steers an additional means to grow and gain weight.”
For Dr Trengove, the benefits of the Multimin program are clear. “Adequate nutrition including trace minerals are integral to the development of muscle, cartilage and bone during the growth phase in calves,” he says. “There are numerous studies that confirm the critical role that trace minerals play in immunity for growing calves. Collectively, they show that the immune system can be enhanced through the use of trace mineral supplements such as Multimin, leading to better disease protection and additional weight gain.”
Outside of the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge Craig ran a second test focusing on the effects of Multimin on fertility. “In this trial, heifers with their first calf at foot were treated with Multimin and Webster’s 5 in 1 B12 in early May (pre-calving) and then treated with Multimin again in August at calf marking (pre-joining). Our bulls were also treated with Multimin before joining. The heifers were joined over an eight-week period, and it was recorded that out of the 127 head joined, 122 fell pregnant. This meant a 96% conception rate, which is phenomenal,” Craig says. “Using Multimin in conjunction with Websters 5 in 1 B12 has proved highly effective. Generally, it’s quite challenging to get our heifers rearing their first calf back into calf, so I’m very happy with these results.”
To find out more about how Multimin can improve livestock performance, contact your local stockist on 1800 242 100.
Interested farmers can sign up for continuing updates on the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge at www.multiminchallenge.com
Ends
Media Enquiries:
Kate Munsie - C7EVEN COMMUNICATIONS
(02) 6766 4513
kate.munsie@c7even.com.au
Photo captions:
The Multimin Performance Ready Challenge has given seven Australian farmers the chance to experience first-hand the benefits of Multimin trace mineral injection. Challengers receive 12 months of free Multimin product and a tailored nutrition program developed by leading industry mentors.
With each challenger sharing their program results and experiences, Craig has been paying particular attention to how Multimin contributes to increased fertility, conception and weight gain, supported by expert advice from mentor Dr Colin Trengove, Vet, University of Adelaide lecturer, and Managing Director of Pro Ag Consulting.
Operating from Maranoa Downs, 20km west of Naracoorte SA, Craig runs predominately Angus cows, which are joined to Wagyu bulls to produce feedlot-entry cattle. After running multiple trace element tests on cattle of various age groups over the years, Craig discovered ongoing issues with cobalt, selenium, copper and manganese deficiencies in many of his animals. Under the guidance of Multimin mentor Dr Colin Trengove, Craig decided to trial the effects of Multimin on the general health and weight gain of his calves.
Craig explains how the trial was conducted. “We treated 50% of our calves with Multimin at marking and weaning and plan to treat the same calves again 3 months post weaning. The other 50% were left untreated and used as a control mob. When comparing the weights of the treated and untreated steers in August 2018 and again in January 2019, and we found a modest weight gain advantage in the treated steers. Although weight gain increases are not always attributed to trace minerals, it is possible that Multimin helped improved the immune function of the steers, and hence provided them with a better opportunity to grow. Unquestionably, the general appearance of the treated calves has also improved, and it’s clear from this result that Multimin’s impact on immunity gave our steers an additional means to grow and gain weight.”
For Dr Trengove, the benefits of the Multimin program are clear. “Adequate nutrition including trace minerals are integral to the development of muscle, cartilage and bone during the growth phase in calves,” he says. “There are numerous studies that confirm the critical role that trace minerals play in immunity for growing calves. Collectively, they show that the immune system can be enhanced through the use of trace mineral supplements such as Multimin, leading to better disease protection and additional weight gain.”
Outside of the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge Craig ran a second test focusing on the effects of Multimin on fertility. “In this trial, heifers with their first calf at foot were treated with Multimin and Webster’s 5 in 1 B12 in early May (pre-calving) and then treated with Multimin again in August at calf marking (pre-joining). Our bulls were also treated with Multimin before joining. The heifers were joined over an eight-week period, and it was recorded that out of the 127 head joined, 122 fell pregnant. This meant a 96% conception rate, which is phenomenal,” Craig says. “Using Multimin in conjunction with Websters 5 in 1 B12 has proved highly effective. Generally, it’s quite challenging to get our heifers rearing their first calf back into calf, so I’m very happy with these results.”
To find out more about how Multimin can improve livestock performance, contact your local stockist on 1800 242 100.
Interested farmers can sign up for continuing updates on the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge at www.multiminchallenge.com
Ends
Media Enquiries:
Kate Munsie - C7EVEN COMMUNICATIONS
(02) 6766 4513
kate.munsie@c7even.com.au
Photo captions:
- Craig’s Multimin treated Angus cows
- Craig Brewin with mentor Dr Colin Trengove