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Cross comparison of feed catalogue value with animals’ blood test

Solution name: Cross comparison of feed catalogue value with animals’ blood test

Aim: To determine the mineral and vitamin needs of animals in an effective and practical way

Description:

Proper animal nutrition means giving the animals the adequate amount of all nutrients necessary for optimum production. For the ewe flock, proper nutrition involves giving animals all the excellent quality forage they want and supplementing that with nutrients that may be deficient.

Mineral and vitamin supplements are given to animals in addition to their basic ration, with the intent of increasing the intake of that critical nutrient.  Thus, we can’t correctly supplement minerals and vitamins without knowing the requirements of animals or knowing the amount of nutrition provided by the basal ration.

Therefore, determination of the vitamin and mineral requirements of sheep is very important to have a healthy flock. One easy and cheap way is before doing any supplement treatment, take a blood test and cross check with the feed catalogue value if that meets the needs of the animals

Topic: Nutrition

Production:  Meat/Dairy

Animal Category: All

Issue: Vitamin and mineral supplementation (ewe)

Level of Solution: Knowledge

Country: Turkey

 

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How to implement it
  • Six to twelve animals from a 100 head flock would be reasonable for blood analysis
  • Animals that do not have any disease and represent the herd should be selected
  • Blood samples can be taken after slaughter or from live animals
  • Blood test for vitamins and minerals can be done in private laboratories or government institutions
  • Test results should be compared with the nutrition requirement catalog, and then the ration preparing suitable
  • The description of nutrition requirement for animals is in the attachment

Expected benefits
  •  It is determined how much of the vitamins and minerals in the rations offered to animals are digested
  • How much additional vitamin and mineral supplements will be actually needed
  • Over-supplementation would be avoided and can reduce feed costs

Cost Benefit analysis

By making routine blood test on the animal’s health state, it will improve overall performance and productivity in the farm and decrease the inefficient feed and supplement cost. It might cost a lot if you test all the animals but no need for this. The farmer can take sample animals blood which will decrease the lab cost.

Sustainability analysis

Mineral and vitamin supplementation is essential for animal production. If we know exactly which minerals or Vitamins are deficient in animals we can provide the supplementation properly in an efficient way. This will increase the efficiency in the whole production chain and improve the sustainability aspects in the environment.

Prerequisites and/or limits
  • The blood samples should be analyzed intact, otherwise incorrect results may be obtained
  • Blood test is required; may be an additional cost

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