By Scout Nelson
The health of cows and their calves is proving to be a top concern, especially with unpredictable conditions like droughts or less-than-ideal forage quality. These issues can cause a real dip in essential nutrients, notably Vitamins A and E, which are super important for both mother cows and their newborn calves.
The USDA emphasizes that green forages are rich in vitamins, while hay and winter ranges lack them. These vitamins not only keep cows and calves healthy but also aid in their ability to fight off sickness.
Calves need a strong start, and that begins with what their mothers are fed. These vitamins don't just jump from the cow to the calf during pregnancy. Instead, calves get them from the first milk, called colostrum, they drink after they're born. So, what a cow eats even before she has her calf matters a lot.
Cows are pretty good at storing Vitamin A in their livers, but they can run out if they don't keep getting it in their diet. Vitamin E is a different story. Cows can't store much of it, so they need to eat it pretty regularly.
To keep cows and calves healthy, experts suggest giving pregnant cows and heifers a daily dose of 30,000 to 100,000 IU of Vitamin A and 50 to 100 IU of Vitamin E when they can't munch on green forage. Even if you've got good-quality hay, it's not a sure bet for these vital vitamins.
Providing cows with high doses of vitamins may seem like a quick solution, but these injections are not a one-time solution and should not replace a cow's regular diet rich in these vitamins.
Ensure cows receive enough vitamins year-round to maintain healthy farms. Even when everything seems good, it's crucial not to cut corners, as healthy cows lead to healthier farms.
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle