Poor fertility is today the main reason for culling in dairy production. The second reason is udder health problems. Together with hoof health problems, they account for more than half of the culled cows. In most cases, it is not a conscious choice we make when we send cows to slaughter.
Udder and hoof health problems are associated with reduced fertility
Mastitis is probably the most economically important health problem in Swedish dairy production. The fact that milk production deteriorates is well known, but fertility is also negatively affected by mastitis, as several studies in recent years have shown. Similar associations also exist between lameness and fertility. An American study showed that lame cows had a 3.5 times higher risk of silent heat. Lameness also results in reduced milk yield.
Issues with fertility, mastitis, or hoof health can be due to various factors. Often, a deficient or unbalanced supply of vitamins and minerals is part of the cause. Identifying the missing substance is difficult, and by increasing the allocation of a single trace element in an inorganic form, you actually risk exacerbating the situation. The substance you supply can form complexes with another substance that the animal is deficient in, worsening the deficiency in that substance. Chelated, or organic, minerals, on the other hand, are protected from breakdown in the rumen to avoid complexing with other minerals. They also have higher bioavailability compared to inorganic forms. Several studies show that organic minerals improve fertility, hoof health, and mobility patterns but also positively impact cell count, udder health, and milk yield.
Deltamin Fertil P & Deltamin Fertil Ca
Improves fertility & hoof and udder health
Deltamin Fertil is formulated to improve fertility and general health, with improved hoof and udder health as a result. In Deltamin Fertil, we have chosen to work with copper, zinc, and manganese in organic form, as well as additional cobalt. Both zinc and copper are important for tissues in hooves and blood vessels. The condition of blood vessels is important for bone and hoof drainage to avoid injuries.
Manganese has a significant impact on hormones and thus fertility, while cobalt is needed for rumen microbes to produce vitamin B12. To further improve hoof quality, biotin, a B-vitamin, is included. The content of vitamin E is high, partly to strengthen the immune system. Parts of the E-vitamin occur in natural form. The form that ruminants utilize best.
Hoof health is positively affected by both organic minerals and the high level of biotin added. The immune system is enhanced by the organic minerals and the natural vitamin E.
Deltamin Fertil is available in two variants with different levels of phosphorus and calcium, both with high levels of magnesium.