Routine mineral and vitamin supplementation in dairy herds usually costs £20 to 30 per cow per year. This is a significant cost and the risk of wasting money is high.
The amount of macromineral (calcium, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus), trace element (copper, zinc, iodine, manganese, zinc and cobalt) and vitamin supplementation (Vitamins A, D and E plus often biotin) that is required is affected by many factors. The feeds, especially the forages are very important as is the water consumed, the time of year and the disease challenge.
Reviewing requirements is not expensive and is not done frequently enough on most farms. There are potentially big wins; even if the supplementation strategy is correct and the specification does not require changing it is always wise to put your requirements out to tender to counter upward price drifts.
How it works
- One of the Evidence Group consultants review the mineral supplementation that is being supplied from all sources in the ration- the forages, straights, concentrates and any other means of mineral supplementation including the water if a borehole is used. If your vet has taken blood samples we are happy to assess and discuss those results.
- We formulate an appropriate mineral specification for your herd.
- This specification is sent to three reputable companies to give quotes.
- We collate these quotes, send them to you and you decide if you want to buy from any of these 3 companies.
- If you do want to buy from one of the companies you order the minerals through Barbican.
- The cost of the audit is £115 including the cost of any forage sampling and possibly water sampling that may need to be done. This analysis is £40 per sample.