We can provide the feed industry for cattle with added value in the field of health and fertility in relation to nutrition. Think in terms of:

Vitamins, minerals and trace elements

Vitamins, minerals and trace elements are essential for an animal to be able to function effectively. They play an important role in the growth and fertility of animals and the effectiveness of their immune system, for example. The cattle sector is faced with a continuous challenge to provide young livestock and adult cows with the correct amount of all important elements via their food ration.

In practice, a less than optimum balance can result in:

• Fertility problems, due to a deficiency in vitamin E, copper, magnesium and/or selenium.
• Animal immunity problems, due to a deficiency in vitamin E, selenium, copper and/or zinc.
• “Downer Cow” problems, due to a metabolic imbalance of calcium, magnesium or phosphorus.

GD Animal Health has great in-house expertise in order to advise you on optimisation or evaluation of the status of your livestock.

Immunity

Immunity is defined as the ability to adapt to a changed situation, such as the immunity to infection. There are individual (genetic) variations between the animals in terms of their immunity to disease. However, immunity is also influenced by ambient factors, such as nutrition or the presence of stress factors at the farm. Here lie opportunities, therefore, to improve the immunity of the animals via the feed. Improved immunity will result in fewer occurrences of sick animals at the farm and a lower rate of premature disposal (increased sustainability).

Schematically speaking, animal immunity can be defined as:

1. The primary barrier (skin, lungs, intestines)
2. The so-called “ROS system” (oxidative stress, GSH-Px, Vit E)
3. The functioning of macrophages
4. The functioning of B and T lymphocytes
5. The liver function (production of proteins, acute phase reaction)
6. The bone marrow function (production and differentiation of white blood cells)

Good immunity begins with the intake of good quality colostrum and effective fermentation in the rumen of newborn calves. A healthy status of vitamins, minerals and trace elements is an important point of attention in yearlings and heifers. Furthermore, transition management is essential in dairy cows in order to prevent damage to the liver function. GD Animal Health has great in-house expertise in order to advise you on immunity in cattle.

Transition

The transition period is a crucial one in the lactation cycle of a cow. Dairy farmers are faced with a continuous challenge to have this period run optimally. In a very short space of time, the cow calves, lactation starts and the animal switches group and diet. After calving, the cow experiences a period of negative energy balance, in which she relies on her fat reserves to keep milk production going. All these changes make great demands of the adaptive capacity of the cow's body.

Most health problems, such as extended milk fever, mastitis and LDA/RDA therefore occur at the beginning of the lactation period. Important areas of attention for the diet in this period include:

• The energy level of the diet in the dry period (to avoid fatty liver syndrome) and during lactation (to limit the negative energy balance).
• Smooth transition of rations (rumen adjustment)
• Nutritional composition of the ration (glucogenic nutrients)
• Provision of vitamins, minerals and trace elements (including vitamin E, magnesium, selenium).

GD Animal Health has great in-house expertise on the transition period of dairy cows in order to advise you regarding the optimisation or evaluation of your nutritional strategies for this period.