Minerals and vitamins are essential components of all biochemical processes that occur in the body. A number of macrominerals and micro- or trace minerals have been shown to be essential for normal function of animals. For optimum productivity and health, it is absolutely necessary to provide adequate amounts of these minerals to the animal’s tissues. Dietary requirements are determined by the metabolic tissue need for a certain quantity of a given nutrient and the efficiency of which that nutrient is absorbed from the diet. Absorption of minerals from the gastrointestinal tract varies based on source or form. Like minerals, vitamins A, D, and E perform critical metabolic functions in all body cells.
 

Minerals Required by Dairy Cows
Macrominerals	Microminerals (trace)
Calcium	Cobalt
Phosphorus	Copper
Magnesium	Iodine
Sodium	Iron
Chloride	Manganese
Potassium	Selenium
Sulfur	Zinc

While minerals and vitamins are crucial to the animal, these same nutrients are also critical to the rumen microbial population, which digest a majority of feed ingested by the cow. Since minerals and vitamins are required for biochemical reactions that occur within individual cells of all living things, and therefore are essential for normal function of rumen microbes as well as the cow, the diet must provide sufficient amounts of these nutrients.

Requirements for most minerals and vitamins are not constant but are influenced by a number of dietary and physiological factors that affect absorption and tissue demand. For example: the cow’s need for calcium is relatively low during the dry period; however, lactation more than doubles the calcium requirement. The dietary requirement for minerals and vitamins differ among animals based on their stage and class (gender, age, physiological state, heat stress, etc.).

Environmental effects (soil type and fertility, season, plant maturity, etc.) also produce differences in mineral and vitamin concentration within the plant, which ultimately lead to variation in mineral availability. Additionally, interactions among minerals and vitamins supplied by feed and water in the animal’s diet influence the relative bioavailability of these nutrients for absorption and utilization by the cow to perform their metabolic function. For example: molybdenum and copper interact in such a way that “ties-up” copper rendering it unavailable for absorption, resulting in the appearance of a dietary copper deficiency. It is therefore important to evaluate the nutritional composition of feedstuffs and water so that the diet can be properly formulated to meet the animal’s nutrient needs.

One method to enhance the bioavailability of certain minerals is to complex them with an organic carrier that prevents the mineral from being “tied up” with other minerals, allowing them to be selectively absorbed. These complexed mineral sources are commonly referred to as “chelates” or chemically organic trace minerals.

Since minerals and vitamins play a crucial role in the basic biological function of body cells, it is essential that adequate and properly balanced levels of these nutrients be supplied in the diet for optimum health and production. Because many factors influence the availability of these essential nutrients, it is important to utilize the highest quality, properly formulated mineral and vitamin supplement available to meet the nutritional demands of today’s high producing dairy cow.

ADM Alliance Nutrition’s Dairy Solutions Dairy Mineral System offers three basic mineral packages to complement forage programs. These mineral and vitamin formulations are designed to provide all necessary trace minerals and vitamins as well as balancing the macromineral needs of the cow, depending on the proportion of legume forage in the ration. Three base mineral/vitamin products are available to balance forage programs and maximize the use of available forages:

u    Dairy Solutions Lactation Mineral AL (for all-legume forage programs)

u    Dairy Solutions Lactation Mineral PL (for partial legume forage programs)

u    Dairy Solutions Lactation Mineral NL (for non-legume forage programs)

Within these basic forage categories are a number of options including salt and no-salt formulations and a complexed trace mineral option for producers who desire the superior bioavailability complexed trace minerals offer. Also available in ADM Alliance Nutrition’s Dairy Solutions mineral line-up is a heat stress mineral, which provides sodium sesquicarbonate and potassium carbonate to help buffer the rumen and provide proper electrolyte balance in heat stress situations.

ADM Alliance Nutrition utilizes the most bioavailable forms of minerals sourced with strict guidelines and then formulated and mixed in such a manner as to result in the highest quality mineral and vitamin product possible. Highly available, stabilized sources of vitamins are included in ADM Alliance Nutrition’s Dairy Solutions mineral formulations. Over 115 years of research, investigation, and development of superior mineral and vitamin nutrition have been formulated and mixed into every bag of Dairy Solutions Mineral. Producers can feed these mineral and vitamin products with the confidence that they are manufactured to the highest standards of quality within the industry. ADM Alliance Nutrition Dairy Solutions processed mineral products are manufactured using an exclusive formulation to produce a superior quality mineral that is manufactured to be similar in particle size and weather protected, resulting in superior mineral and vitamin nutrition.

Regardless of the forage program, ADM Alliance Nutrition’s Dairy Solutions Dairy Mineral System has the mineral solution to balance and maximize the use of various forages. For assistance in balancing an optimum dairy ration using ADM Alliance Nutrition’s Dairy Solutions Minerals for maximum value and return on investment, contact an Alliance Nutrition Sales Representative or dealer.
                                               an_dairyhelp@admworld.com