I am interested in flushing one of my older cows and have read about some supplements in the past that can increase egg production and quality, but can't remember what the supplements were. Does anyone know what I am talking about or have any suggestions?
Feed supplements to increase egg production when flushing
- Thread starter shufly
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Cowboy
Well-known member
You will be VERY hard pressed to find anything better than those products -- that is the only mineral program I have used here, and the only one I will ever use.
It works -- plain and simple. I tried others years ago but always come back to the master -- the cows eat less -- do better -- and absorb more of what they need. I do believe in feeding the No-Salt version however, and offer salt free choice along side.
I see too many ranchers mixing in a bag of granulated salt -- ask WHY and they all say -- to cut down on consumption!!! WHAT??
Consumption of these product is what you WANT to happen in a breeding program. Makes no sense at all, but of course it all comes down to cost right ? Cost is irrelavent if there is no results with your input feed costs. You get what you put in -- simple!
Vita-Ferm has been a main stay here for years, I went so far as to place 5 different brands in the donor pen one year -- side by side -- and had many donors come in from several places. Most of them had never seen a good mineral, some none at all. After 7 days -- the Vita-Ferm was gone -- and 2 of the others were not even touched at all. These cows will talk to us if we are smart enough to read thier lips - so to speak any way. hehehe
Go with Concet-Aid -- it works, it is the best there is, time proven!
Terry
It works -- plain and simple. I tried others years ago but always come back to the master -- the cows eat less -- do better -- and absorb more of what they need. I do believe in feeding the No-Salt version however, and offer salt free choice along side.
I see too many ranchers mixing in a bag of granulated salt -- ask WHY and they all say -- to cut down on consumption!!! WHAT??
Consumption of these product is what you WANT to happen in a breeding program. Makes no sense at all, but of course it all comes down to cost right ? Cost is irrelavent if there is no results with your input feed costs. You get what you put in -- simple!
Vita-Ferm has been a main stay here for years, I went so far as to place 5 different brands in the donor pen one year -- side by side -- and had many donors come in from several places. Most of them had never seen a good mineral, some none at all. After 7 days -- the Vita-Ferm was gone -- and 2 of the others were not even touched at all. These cows will talk to us if we are smart enough to read thier lips - so to speak any way. hehehe
Go with Concet-Aid -- it works, it is the best there is, time proven!
Terry
rtmcc
Well-known member
Cowboy said:
"Ditto"
Its what all others are compared to.
Doc
Well-known member
Cowboy said:
Just curious Cowboy, Do you offer like a white mixing salt or a trace mineral salt?
Hilltop
Well-known member
Just wondering if Vita Ferm is the maker of this product you are talking about? It probably is not available up here but am always looking for the best available. We switched to the Cargill "Right Now" minerals this past fall and my wife said she is so happy with how lively the calves are. Not sure if mineral could have anything to do with it.The mineral we are feeding now also has Bio Moss added in it. Any idea if I would be able to get a list of the ingredients on this product?Any one use Cargill??
The rep is recommending the 8/S version is that what you use? I will agree that it looks and sounds like VitaFerm has several great products. I remembered the name one product I had heard of and it is Essential Breeder Pac. Ever heard of it?
Jill
Well-known member
We also use the cargill mineral and for donors, we use the Black Onyx year around.
Show Heifer
Well-known member
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Kent has a new one out right now, but it has a very high level of CTC which concerns me.
When buying mineral for calving or breeding, look for the word "sulfate" or the word "celated" . Both are indicators of good absorbtion and availbility to the animal.
Also, vit E is very important for reproductive health. Many times you can buy a "vitaman pak" which has A, D, and E in it.
I would compare labels and compare cost.
Also, a mineral isn't a "quick fix" for lack of nutrition the other 300 days. I am assuming she has been in good heath and a good nutrition program the last year, if so, a solid mineral program will benefit.
When buying mineral for calving or breeding, look for the word "sulfate" or the word "celated" . Both are indicators of good absorbtion and availbility to the animal.
Also, vit E is very important for reproductive health. Many times you can buy a "vitaman pak" which has A, D, and E in it.
I would compare labels and compare cost.
Also, a mineral isn't a "quick fix" for lack of nutrition the other 300 days. I am assuming she has been in good heath and a good nutrition program the last year, if so, a solid mineral program will benefit.
aj
Well-known member
A little off subject but it seems like this spring cows just look tuff. I'm hearing stories of cows not milking,weak cows and what not. I think since there was almost no ear loss in corn stover this year cows got very little energy. Unless it was something different like a cooler summer or something. Seems like everybodies 3 year olds look like heck. We did have below normal temps back in January or whatever. Seems like something might be up in this area.
muleman
Well-known member
Cowboy and others do you use the AP or the 8/S?
muleman
Well-known member
AP or 8/S
Jill
Well-known member
http://www.cargillanimalnutrition.com/beef/can/products/dc_can_beef_products_rno.htm#TopOfPageJill said:
Not sure if the link will work on not, but it is a Nutrena Right Now mineral specifically designed for an AI/Embryo program
Cowboy
Well-known member
Muleman - I normally use the straight original Con=Cept Aid -- no salt for the donors and my own herd. I offer free choice granulated salt seperately. Lately, it has become harder to get that straight version, and the last time I picked up product, they only had the 8/s formula.
The 8/S is 8% Phos, and has salt added to the mix at about 15%.
Cheaper by the bag that way, but not really -- you are just buying salt. The real Con=Cept Aid is pretty spendy, but you don't buy the cheap salt already mixed in.
Here is my schedule here -- Donors get ONLY Con-Cept Aid year round.
Cowherd gets Con-Cept Aid starting 30 prior to calving and continue until breeding is over. I then go to the Cow/Calf 5 mix for several moniths until the grass is getting mature, then, I switch over to thier Roughage Fortifier formula -- it has a higher protien level and also a slightly higher Ama-Ferm mix for better rumen health with the older grass.
They stay on RF until 30 prior to calving, and then go back to the Con-Cept Aid -- basicly a 3 mix cycle year round.
Our cows will usually clean BEFORE they can get thier calves dried off -- that is the real test to any program, these cows will tell us how they are doing if we can just undrstand the language. I can simply say that I have no ide how to improve on something so nearly perfect already!
I hope that tells the story on why I beleive in and feed Vita-Ferm!
Terry
The 8/S is 8% Phos, and has salt added to the mix at about 15%.
Cheaper by the bag that way, but not really -- you are just buying salt. The real Con=Cept Aid is pretty spendy, but you don't buy the cheap salt already mixed in.
Here is my schedule here -- Donors get ONLY Con-Cept Aid year round.
Cowherd gets Con-Cept Aid starting 30 prior to calving and continue until breeding is over. I then go to the Cow/Calf 5 mix for several moniths until the grass is getting mature, then, I switch over to thier Roughage Fortifier formula -- it has a higher protien level and also a slightly higher Ama-Ferm mix for better rumen health with the older grass.
They stay on RF until 30 prior to calving, and then go back to the Con-Cept Aid -- basicly a 3 mix cycle year round.
Our cows will usually clean BEFORE they can get thier calves dried off -- that is the real test to any program, these cows will tell us how they are doing if we can just undrstand the language. I can simply say that I have no ide how to improve on something so nearly perfect already!
I hope that tells the story on why I beleive in and feed Vita-Ferm!
Terry
Cowboy
Well-known member
To tell you the truth, I've never used the Cattlemens Blend -- haven't seen it offered hee. I used to try and be a small time distributer for Vita-Ferm years ago, but got rifted out because I couldn't maintain thier mandated 8 ton per month quota. Doesn't matter though, I will never use anything else either way.
Cow Calf 5 is mixed to be VERY palatable for early calves, has a little higher protien init for growing younger cattle, but the cow will do very well on it as it is about the 10 and 12 Cal-Phos mix we all grew up thinking was the best. Today they don't always feel that they need that much Phos.
CC-% is a very good palatable mix -- has salt in it too already -- and the calves go right to it early. Ever since I made sure to offer this along side the Con-Cept Aid early -- I noticed my calves never did stand and eat dirt like I used to notice them do. I always felt this was due to having an onging irritation in thier young stomachs -- calves are by thier very nature prone for mild acidosis all the time until they start to eat sold food. MIlk may be very mild in it's raw form, but once you ferment that stuff, it turns into white acid. Ever see a bunch of dairy calves on bottles?? Wonder why they always had most of thier hair gone around their rear ends?? Until they get on solid feed, they were always borderline acidotic -- ate the hair right off them. Beef calves are no diferent until they get to eating hay or grass along side mom, and the CC-5 has enough buffer in it to help prevent alot of the acidosis we see in these caves. Instead of eatin sand and dirt to ease the irritation, they eat the CC-5 -- BRILLIANT !! heeehe PLUS -- and here is the real benefit as far as I am concerned -- if you can stop them from eating dirt early on -- you will have ALOT less problems with Clostridiums Perfringens infections. C-D will be and is a killer -- they pick it up in the dirt they eat to prevent thier stomachs from being irritated. There ya go!!!
That's my take on Vita-Ferm Minerals and thier benefits -- a true complete cow herd formula for all stages and all ages!
Best of luck to every one -- spring is close -- I can FEEL it!
Terry
Some places will carry all the formula variations, others won't.
Cow Calf 5 is mixed to be VERY palatable for early calves, has a little higher protien init for growing younger cattle, but the cow will do very well on it as it is about the 10 and 12 Cal-Phos mix we all grew up thinking was the best. Today they don't always feel that they need that much Phos.
CC-% is a very good palatable mix -- has salt in it too already -- and the calves go right to it early. Ever since I made sure to offer this along side the Con-Cept Aid early -- I noticed my calves never did stand and eat dirt like I used to notice them do. I always felt this was due to having an onging irritation in thier young stomachs -- calves are by thier very nature prone for mild acidosis all the time until they start to eat sold food. MIlk may be very mild in it's raw form, but once you ferment that stuff, it turns into white acid. Ever see a bunch of dairy calves on bottles?? Wonder why they always had most of thier hair gone around their rear ends?? Until they get on solid feed, they were always borderline acidotic -- ate the hair right off them. Beef calves are no diferent until they get to eating hay or grass along side mom, and the CC-5 has enough buffer in it to help prevent alot of the acidosis we see in these caves. Instead of eatin sand and dirt to ease the irritation, they eat the CC-5 -- BRILLIANT !! heeehe PLUS -- and here is the real benefit as far as I am concerned -- if you can stop them from eating dirt early on -- you will have ALOT less problems with Clostridiums Perfringens infections. C-D will be and is a killer -- they pick it up in the dirt they eat to prevent thier stomachs from being irritated. There ya go!!!
That's my take on Vita-Ferm Minerals and thier benefits -- a true complete cow herd formula for all stages and all ages!
Best of luck to every one -- spring is close -- I can FEEL it!
Terry
Some places will carry all the formula variations, others won't.
