Ruminant Care and Nutrition
Mineral nutrition for ruminants
Mineral supplementation is mandatory for ruminants farmers looking for high performances. Most of this supplementation is done through the feed: within the TMR, inside the complementary feed or even distributed directly as a feedthrough on top of the diet. However, in a lot of situations, providing the correct mineral nutrition is not easy to do:
- Outside when cattles are grazing
- For small group of animals such as heifers or dry cows
- When cattles show high production levels
Moreover, animal needs vary according to their genetic potential, age, and stage of production. Ruminants producing higher quantity of milk or having a higher ADG will need more nutrients and minerals than other producing less. However, ruminant operations often use one diet for all animals in that group, regardless of individual needs. As a consequence, some of the animals will suffer from nutrient deficit, which penalizes the expression of their potential.
PHYSIOlick
To help care for the nutritional needs of individual animals within a group, and for those in more challenging feeding situations, we offer PHYSIOlick, a unique range of licking buckets, which brings benefits to animals and higher profits to producers.
PHYSIOlick buckets are formulated by specialists to meet the requirements of ruminant species throughout their production cycle and support the animals during the critical periods of their life (weaning, turn out to pasture, changes of diet, drying off, etc.)
PHYSIOlick allows each animal to feed itself according to its particular needs. It meets a need expressed individually by an animal at a given time. This product is also easy-to-use whether for grazing animals or animals in stalling system.
The PHYSIOlick bucket is a very good barometer of nutrition problems. High licking bucket consumption should draw the breeder’s attention (for example, it may be the sign of an unbalanced ration). PHYSIOlick provides a response to the ruminants’ natural need to lick. Increasing the licking significantly increases the production of saliva which maintains stable digestion through its buffer effect. Thanks to the increased salivation, feed intake and nutritional utilization are optimized for maximum performance. PHYSIOlick is one of the solutions in our premix & services portfolio.