New solution to ‘hidden’ vitamin E crisis

approximately 60 days.

For dairy cows, the ESey Breeder bolus aids in a quicker recovery after calving, boosting milk production, colostrum quality, and productivity. The ESey Finisher bolus o ers similar bene ts to nishing beef cattle, optimising daily liveweight gain to hit target weights quicker and helping meat quality and redness.

Technical manager Callum Harvey (pictured) says: “These shortfalls in vitamin E and selenium are a bit of a hidden problem but they are hugely important to cow health. Research has shown that cows rarely get up to the recommended levels and this means both the cow and the calf aren’t ful lling their maximum potential.

Agrimin has developed a new solution to signi cant shortfalls of vitamin E in UK cattle, after research showed 75% of dairy cows su er a shortage at some point in the production cycle. This rises to as much as 97% in very early lactation dairy cows, and 89% of grazed grass was also found to be de cient in selenium.

Both vitamin E and selenium are crucial antioxidants that are critical for cattle health in periods of stress.

Agrimin has developed a new slow-release bolus range – ESey Breeder and ESey Finisher – to provide dairy cows and beef cattle with the recommended levels of vitamin E and selenium for periods of stress, such as transition and calving. They supply the animal’s full daily requirement of each for

“For dairy and suckler cows, an imbalance means she is slower to recover and get into milk production and the calf won’t be getting everything it needs from the colostrum, slowing its development too. In nishing cattle an imbalance can reduce growth rates and so cattle will be slower to nish.”

The ESey range contains a combination of vitamin E, selenium and grape extract and is intended for adult cattle on grass or forage-based diets with a liveweight over 400kg.

Antioxidants protect cells from oxidative stress which is key during recovery in periods of stress –including hot weather, changes in the diet and calving. The antioxidants in the bolus optimise the cow’s immune system and colostrum quality, accelerating calf development and reducing the incidence of scour, as well as optimising liveweight gain and meat quality, Agrimin says. Half of all antioxidant activity comes from vitamin E and the grape extract in the bolus multiplies the e ect of the vitamin E.

Callum adds: “Farmers face incredible pressure, and this bolus range is a simple and easy solution to making sure you get the most out of your cows.

“It can take 100 days for cows to restore vitamin E levels following pregnancy and that means they are not fully recovered and operating at their full potential.”

The bolus can be used at any time of year but is designed for periods of stress, including transition, precalving, at calving or periods of heat stress too.

Agrimin is planning further product launches in the coming months, focusing on three key elements: resource e ciency, animal welfare and the environment. FG