About 25 Marlborough farmers recently
enjoyed a day with Mark Bader, manager of Free Choice Enterprises, a livestock
mineral company based in Wisconsin, USA. At Kit and Margie Sandall’s
property, Upton Fells, Awatere Valley, he spoke about balancing the energy/protein
ratio of animal feed and the animal problems many farmers face as a result
of protein excess. He emphasised that farmers should focus on dietary
excesses, not deficiencies. Fix the animal first, then it can help
you fix the soil.
This time of year, many farmers see their sheep and cattle scouring
to varying degrees. They think their animals need drenching and will
drench them even if they’re worm free. Dark, runny dung is a sign that
the mixture of energy and protein is not balanced. Like an engine pours
out black smoke when there is not enough oxygen getting in the carburettor,
animals exhibit similar symptoms when there is too much protein in their
feed.
If you suspect your animals are experiencing an excess protein diet,
feed them a bale of hay. If they eat the hay they are looking for
more energy (carbohydrate) to help convert the excess protein into products
their bodies can use. By adding a little carbohydrate, animals eat
less grass because their bodies are in balance. Mr Bader reminded farmers
that their animals only want to get enough energy to survive until tomorrow,
not to produce meat, wool, or milk. That is what the farmer wants.
Problems occur if excess protein overloads the bloodstream. In
the rumen, the protein becomes ammonia gas, the gas that causes bloat.
It passes through the stomach wall and locks onto haemoglobin, the transporter
of oxygen. In occupying the haemoglobin, there is less oxygen transported
around the body. The absorption of other minerals important for immunity
also decreases making the animal vulnerable to health problems like footrot.
Such minerals include selenium, calcium, iodine, copper and zinc.
There are other complications. Ammonia is slightly alkaline.
Its presence changes the pH of sites around the body. In the udder
this changes the pH of the milk. The change in pH allows the organisms
that cause black mastitis to thrive. The dairy industry around the
world is pumping cows with high protein diets yet spending large sums treating
the symptoms of mastitis. Mr Bader noted that farmers are sold high
protein pastures but seldom understand those same pastures lack the energy
for the animal to utilise all of the protein.
Mr. Bader explained how excesses of some minerals complicate or completely
prevent animal health remedies from working. Force feeding excess
calcium for treating milk fever prevents the absorption of phosphorus, the
very mineral the body requires to absorb calcium.
Mr Bader then explained why pastures with multiple species are important
to allow animals a choice in correcting their nutrition. Pastures with many
species that accumulate different minerals and mature at different times
provide greater variety for animals. He suggested farmers lamb on
mature pasture to reduce excess protein problems.
Stock water is the most important issue on a farm. Mr. Bader suggested
farmers observe their animals drinking. If they lick at, or play with
the water, then something is wrong. There are two water living bacteria
that consume sulphur or iron. These live and breed in the pipes feeding
troughs. Animals can taste them and if they wont drink the water,
they wont graze far from the trough either. This behaviour results
in severe grazing around the trough but pasture going rank further in the
paddock. A tablet of calcium hypo-chloride (from the local swimming
pool shop) in the trough oxidises the water and kills the bacteria.
Potassium is a mineral Mr. Bader suggested farmers be wary of, especially
when using sea salt. Grasses are already high in potassium.
Using sea salt and excessive amounts of molasses can create potassium excess.
Potassium controls the regulation of fluids through the cell wall.
Using sodium based salt is far more efficient and better for the animal.
Mr Bader supports the efforts of farmers managing holistically.
His observations about grazing, plant growth and animal health are used
in Holistic Management. Mr. Bader spoke near Seddon, Ashburton, Fairlie,
and Wanaka with the assistance of farmers trained in Holistic Management.
Published Nelson/Marlborough Farming, Summer 2000 - 2001
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