Description
Are you supporting the trace element status of your lambs at weaning?
As lambs are weaned from the ewe and transition to grazing land, careful planning and consideration should be taken to ensure lambs continue to receive enough trace elements to help support growth and development.
Although trace elements can be sourced from grass, the quality of grazing land can vary. Changeable weather such as extreme temperatures or heavy rainfall can decrease the availability of trace elements in the grass. Likewise, geographical differences mean some areas have a shortfall of some trace elements. As a result, this can make managing the trace elements status of lambs at weaning more challenging.
What are the key trace elements?
Trace element shortfalls in lambs can impact growth and performance, with severe shortfalls often going undetected until it’s too late. Ensuring the daily supply of trace elements meet a lamb’s needs can help support growth rates and reduce the risk of nutritional stress of weaning and of variable grazing.
Cobalt
Cobalt is an essential trace element and is needed to produce vitamin B12 in the rumen, which is used for extracting energy from feed and optimising growth, weight gain and vitality.
Seasonal variations and the changing climate conditions can affect Cobalt availability, meaning some areas which were previously marginal in Cobalt may be experiencing a shortfall. Lambs and sheep don’t store cobalt, so ensuring a consistent daily supply to meet the animal’s needs is key.
Selenium
Selenium is another key trace element, and it plays a key role in promoting growth and maintaining the correct function of muscles and vital organs. Selenium also helps to support the immune system.
Iodine
Iodine is vital for a healthy, functioning thyroid gland and production of thyroid hormones which are involved in controlling metabolic rate and therefore growth.
Understanding the trace element levels for your farm and the potential gap in provision at weaning can help ensure effective management strategies are implemented to reduce the risk of a trace element gap. Whilst there are many options when it comes to managing the trace element status, providing a bolus at weaning, such as the ESSENTIAL LAMB, can help to ensure lambs receive a consistent daily supply of the essential trace elements.
ESSENTIAL LAMB is a specially designed mini bolus which provides a sustained release of essential trace elements for 4 months. It is formulated and suitable for lambs over 25kg with a fully developed rumen.
