Vitamins for cattle

The body of cattle needs vitamins in the same way as humans. Novice cattle breeders who do not have the proper experience often underestimate the threat of vitamin deficiency in cows and calves. In fact, a lack of vitamins and microelements often causes poor growth, disease and even death of livestock. If there are signs of vitamin deficiency, you should not mindlessly feed everything to the animal. Vitamins for calves and cows must be selected wisely, taking into account external factors and the health status of each individual.

The importance of fortification of cattle

Some farmers are confident that cows that are free-range or fed concentrated feed do not need additional vitamin supplementation. However, it is not. In winter, absolutely the entire cattle population lacks vitamins and microelements. The situation is especially aggravated closer to spring, when the body’s own reserves are exhausted.

It is impossible to neglect the artificial fortification of cattle, because this can lead to serious consequences: from problems with the animal’s vision and coordination, to stunted growth of calves, decreased immunity of cows, and a tendency to viral and infectious diseases. Problems such as a decrease in milk yield and livestock weight are not discussed at all - a lack of vitamins has a bad effect on the productivity of cows.

A common problem for cattle of various ages and breeds is a decrease in immunity, which entails more serious disorders in the animal’s body.

Fortification of calves

Typically, young cattle are raised to replace old and sick individuals in the herd (which is why they are called “replacement stock”). If a lack of vitamins is very dangerous for adult cows, then what can we say about calves? The body of young animals should absolutely not be deprived of essential microelements and other beneficial substances. Particular attention should be paid to calves in winter, when animals switch to dry food.

The lack of nutrients in the blood of young cattle has dangerous consequences, such as:

• growth slowdown;
• bone deformation and diseases;
• dystrophy;
• vision problems;
• decreased protective functions of the body;
• purulent processes on the mucous membranes;
• predisposition to bacterial and viral diseases.

Vitamins for cattle growth: where to get them

For a growing calf, two vitamins are most important: A and D. Carotene (vitamin A) is necessary for normal hematopoiesis and the supply of oxygen to organs.You can compensate for the lack of vitamin A in cattle feeding by adding fresh orange vegetables to the calf diet: fodder beets, carrots, rutabaga.

Vitamin D is responsible for the complete absorption of calcium by the body of young animals. Its long-term deficiency results in stunted growth, bone deformation or rickets in the calf. Young animals must be fed with silage, bean hay, and fish oil added to dry food.

Vitamins for young cattle can be found not only in medicines. Calves need to be given suitable feed to promote rapid growth and good health. Clover and alfalfa hay will help replenish the lack of nutrients. These herbs have a fairly high content of D3, which protects the calf from the development of rickets.

Another option for natural fortification of calves is an infusion of spruce and pine cones. To prepare it, pour boiling water over the pine cones and leave the mixture covered until it cools completely. This decoction should be added to the feed of young animals; it promotes the rapid growth of calves.

A farmer does not always have the opportunity and desire to feed young cattle with vegetables or prepare decoctions and tinctures for calves. In this case, complex medications will help. Names of good vitamins for fast growth of calves:

• "Katozal";
• "Aminotol";
• "Cyanophore";
• "Nucleopeptide";
• "Gamavit";
• "Roborante."

In the most advanced cases, it is recommended to use vitamins for young animals or fattening cattle in injections (for example, Eleovit).Such drugs act much faster.

Fortification of cows

Adult heifers and bulls need their own portion of nutrients. In the warm season, when there is enough grass and sunlight, you don’t have to worry about the immunity of the herd. But in winter, almost every cow will need additional vitamin supplementation.

The diet of adult livestock largely depends on the purpose of specific individuals. Thus, pregnant and lactating females need some vitamins and minerals, dairy cows will require other components in their diet, and beef cattle need a third “menu.”

More information about vitamins for each type of cattle will be discussed below.

Standards for vitamin content in the blood of cows and calves

Ideally, before giving cows and calves drugs, their blood should be tested. The analysis will show the content of certain vitamins and microelements in the animal’s blood. Based on the data obtained, the dosage of the drugs should be calculated.

Unfortunately, testing the blood of every cow in the herd is very expensive; not every domestic farmer can afford such luxury. In order not to harm the livestock, you need to know the dosage of vitamins and microelements per head per day. The required data is presented in the table below.

Knowing the established standards, you can independently calculate the dosage of vitamins in injections for fattening cattle, dairy cows or calves. Those who do not know how to inject cows can purchase drugs in the form of drops or tablets - they are added to water or feed mixtures.

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency in cattle

A lack of vitamins and minerals is very dangerous for cattle. Vitamin deficiency can lead to such consequences as:

1. Decreased productivity. In dairy cows, milk yield drops sharply, and the quality of milk noticeably deteriorates. Beef cattle lose significant weight, and the nutritional value of meat decreases.
2. Disturbances in the functioning of the reproductive organs. The lack of certain substances has a negative impact on the ability of bulls to conceive offspring, and the ability of heifers to carry them to term.
3. Decreased immunity leads to the manifestation of hidden chronic diseases. Often, against this background, cattle become additionally infected with viruses.
4. The slowdown in growth is especially noticeable in calves of the first year of life. Young cattle not only develop more slowly, the herd’s protective function of the body decreases - the calves begin to get sick.

What vitamins are best for cattle?

It cannot be said that all cows need the same vitamins, and in the same dosage. In veterinary medicine, it is recommended to choose vitamins for cattle taking into account the purpose of an individual in the herd:

1. Dairy cows most often do not have enough vitamin A in their diet. At the end of a long winter, fish oil should be added to the diet of cattle, because due to a lack of D3, dairy cows can lose their teeth.
2. Beef cattle should be supplemented with vitamins only in extreme cases, when the quality of dry food leaves much to be desired. Typically, beef cows do not suffer from vitamin deficiency, but it is better to monitor the condition of the livestock in winter.Vitamins for muscle growth can be introduced into the diet of beef cattle breeds; they will help increase the weight of cows.
3. Breeding cows and bulls should be well fed and receive all the microelements necessary for health. A lack of vitamins such as A and B12 for cattle of this group can result in ovarian dysfunction in heifers and decreased sperm activity in bulls. Cows that are planned to give birth in the spring must be given vitamin E in advance, because its deficiency causes involuntary abortions in cattle.
4. Pregnant cows are called pregnant. The livestock from this group needs the highest quality and nutritious nutrition. In order for calves to be born healthy, and for the cows themselves to be able to give birth more than once, the body of pregnant animals must be supported with vitamins. In winter, you can use feed vitamins for cattle, containing A, D, B12 and E.

To understand this issue completely, it is necessary to consider each group of cattle in more detail.

Vitamins for fattening cattle

A farmer who breeds cattle for meat always faces a choice: what drugs to use to increase the muscle mass of his cows. Several options are popular today, each of them is effective, but not all methods are safe.

Antibiotics, hormonal steroids and metabolic accelerators (food additives) should be considered undesirable methods of increasing muscle mass in cattle. An excellent alternative to these drugs are special complexes. It is recommended to use the following vitamins for fattening cattle:

• "Biovit-40", which is recommended for feeding young animals aged from one month to a year and fattening cattle;
• “Nucleopeptide” effectively increases the weight of livestock and also improves the condition of the coat (these vitamins are often given to show cows and bulls);
• “Eleovit” not only helps calves gain weight, the vitamin complex also strengthens the skeleton of cattle.

Vitamins for calves with bronchopneumonia

During the fattening stage, calves often become infected with bronchopneumonia. The disease is an inflammation of the bronchi or lungs. One of the common causes of bronchopneumonia is precisely the low immunity of cattle caused by vitamin deficiency.

Of course, it is better to prevent illness and prevent a lack of nutrients in the calf’s body. If time is lost and the animal is already infected, you should proceed as follows:

1. The causative agent of bronchopneumonia is bacteria, so the disease will have to be treated with antibiotics.
2. Drugs such as calcium gluconate and suprastin will help save the calf from an allergic reaction to the medicine and reduce the fragility of blood vessels.
3. To breed young cattle, they are additionally given glucose solutions and vitamin A.

Vitamins for pregnant cows

Like all pregnant women, pregnant cows need a double portion of nutrients, microelements and vitamins.Pregnant heifers need increased nutrition, and in winter pregnant animals must be given vitamin complexes.

A lack of certain vitamins is dangerous both for the cow itself and for the fetus. Causes and effects:

1. Vitamin B12 is simply necessary for a pregnant cow. A deficiency of this element leads to the birth of weak, sick or dead young animals. As a result of B12 deficiency, the cow's stomach wall poorly absorbs nutrients and microelements necessary for the body: cattle lose weight, there is a lack of coordination, and a deficiency of iron in the blood.
2. Vitamin E in the blood of cattle is responsible for the proper functioning of the ovaries, the elasticity of the walls of the uterus, and metabolic processes in the body of the fetus and mother. If a cow cannot get pregnant, it is likely that she lacks vitamin E. This element is important at every stage of pregnancy. Component E begins to be added to cows' food a month before mating and continues until the end of pregnancy.
3. Vitamin D is also vital for pregnant cattle. D3 deficiency is the only cause of rickets in calves. In addition, this substance helps the cattle’s body absorb calcium, which means it affects the condition of the bones and teeth of a pregnant cow.
4. Vitamin A is more important for the newborn calf than for its mother. For young animals born in winter, carotene is administered intramuscularly in the first days of life. This helps avoid serious health problems for calves.

Vitamins for cows in winter

In winter, the cattle's body is most weakened, because the animals are indoors, in conditions of high humidity, low temperature, the cows do not see sunlight, and do not eat fresh grass. Therefore, in winter, special attention should be paid to the diet of cattle.

The optimal feed option is properly prepared hay from various types of grass. If the quality of dry food is unsatisfactory, you can replace it with purchased balanced mixtures, add fresh vegetables and herbal infusions.

At the first signs of vitamin deficiency, it is necessary to urgently introduce vitamins into the feed in the form of medications. Without conducting a detailed blood test of cattle, it is better to use complex products as food additives.

Recommendations for proper and balanced feeding

In winter, during pregnancy and lactation, during recovery from a serious illness, at the stage of growth of young animals, the animal’s body needs not only vitamins, but also minerals. Cattle most often needs the following components:

1. Protein or protein. The substance is responsible for cell reproduction; the growth of muscle mass, the condition of internal organs, and the circulatory system depend on the amount of protein in the blood of cattle. Protein is given to weak and sick cows, lactating and milking cows, and calves born in winter.
2. Due to copper deficiency, cattle lose their appetite, the cow develops anemia and weakness. You can suspect a metal deficiency in the blood by the hair falling out in clumps. If the copper deficiency is not corrected, reproductive function will decrease, and a dairy cow may lose milk completely.
3. Iodine is responsible for the fat content of cow's milk. Milk yield may decrease or disappear altogether if the animal lacks this microelement. Pregnant cows also need iodine - its deficiency can cause “resorption” of the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy.
4. A sufficient amount of manganese in the blood of cattle ensures the normal functioning of the reproductive system. If there is not enough microelement, a pregnant cow may miscarry.Calves that gain fat too quickly but do not gain growth also need manganese.
5. Salt in large quantities is death, but in small doses the microelement is simply necessary for cattle. A balanced amount of salt in a cow’s diet determines her appetite, the taste of milk, the volume of milk production, the health of the reproductive system and the ability to bear strong offspring.

If cattle feed is saturated with essential vitamins and minerals, cows will survive the longest and coldest winter well.

Conclusion

Vitamins for calves and adults are an important component of the cattle diet. Additional support is needed by the animal's body in winter, during the growth period of young animals, fattening cows, pregnant and lactating females, and bulls for mating.

A balanced diet and a well-designed diet will protect cattle from loss of strength and decreased immunity, which, in turn, will save you from serious health problems and prevent loss of livestock.

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