Stock Journal

The trace minerals program helping farmers improve animal growth and fertility is back

Up to the challenge: Angus producer Nick Boshammer from NBGenetics in Chinchilla in Queensland is already on board for this year's Multimin trial aimed at showing how trace minerals can improve fertility, animal health and ultimately herd performance.
Up to the challenge: Angus producer Nick Boshammer from NBGenetics in Chinchilla in Queensland is already on board for this year's Multimin trial aimed at showing how trace minerals can improve fertility, animal health and ultimately herd performance.

This is sponsored content for Virbac Australia.

It has certainly been a challenging year for most livestock producers across the country.

The ongoing impact of poor to desperate seasons around Australia has focused many cattle and sheep producers on how to ensure their stock are receiving the nutrition they need to thrive.

It's a challenge that leading animal health company Virbac Australia is determined to help producers with.

The company is again inviting sheep, beef and dairy producers to enter its Multimin Performance Ready Challenge, a 12-month program of in-depth trials aimed at showing the potential of the effective use of trace mineral injections for cattle and sheep.

As part of the Challenge up to seventy-five producers will receive discounted Multimin products and other perks in exchange for sharing their experiences and results. One lucky competing individual or team will also win an overseas study tour.

Last year's challenge received strong support and engagement from the public and livestock experts around Australia. Challengers reported better conception rates, tighter calving intervals, improved immune function, reduced disease, and better general health.

For 2019 winner, Victorian dairy farmer Renee Murfett, the program was a valuable opportunity to trial the impact of trace mineral supplementation on her dairy calves' immunity and health.

Ms Murfett, who runs two dairy farms with her husband Alister, said it was a "fascinating 12 months". She said that in just the first 12 weeks of the program she had seen significant improvements.

"There's no doubt optimisation of trace minerals at high demand times can improve animal health and productivity," she said.

As part of her prize, Ms Murfett will head to the World Ag Expo in the USA in February where she will learn more about best-practice dairy farming.

Virbac Australia Nutritionist and Livestock Nutrition Marketing Manager Dr Jerry Liu said the company is keen to work with sheep, beef and dairy producers from across Australia to show how they could also improve fertility, animal health and ultimately herd performance with the use of Multimin.

Dairy farmer Renee Murfett will head to the US in February on a study tour trip that is part of her prize for winning the Multimin Challenge. Picture: Rob Gunstone
Dairy farmer Renee Murfett will head to the US in February on a study tour trip that is part of her prize for winning the Multimin Challenge. Picture: Rob Gunstone

"We know that during high demand periods such as joining, weaning and birthing, animals have elevated requirements for trace minerals," he said.

"And consequently, with less feed available than normal in many areas of Australia, stock are not receiving many nutrients, including trace minerals.

"Our national interest is to re-build Australia's livestock numbers and improving the immunity and fertility in our animals will be a major contributor to this.

"During these tough times, improved health and productivity is going to pay off and we want to assist producers as much as we can to do this."

Angus producer Nick Boshammer from NBGenetics in Chinchilla in Queensland is already on board this year's program.

Mr Boshammer said he recently had positive results with Multimin and was looking forward to joining the Multimin Challenge to further advance his herd and also gain access to industry experts.

"I used Multimin pre-joining in October this year and saw a 100 per cent response rate in my fixed time AI program," he said.

"I want to get as many AI pregnancies as I can which means getting stock in calf as early as possible. It's increasing my animals' trace minerals levels during this high demand period to give them every opportunity to conceive early on.

"We need all the help we can get in these tough conditions, so I'll be entering the challenge this year and encouraging my friends to enter as well.

"I think there is a big opportunity for Multimin to be used in early weaned calves. I'll Multimin every one of my weaned calves this month to give them a rapid top-up of essential minerals for future performance and fertility."

As well as the overseas trip, the overall winner will take home a 12-month supply of Multimin. The second and third runners-up will receive a six month supply.

To find out more and to enter visit the Virbac Australia website.

This is sponsored content for Virbac Australia.