I wish the vitafirm was close to me. I going to see if my feed store can get it. Thanks for reply.If you're wanting the mag then I would want to ask an expert if this is what you want. According to the label the mag is in oxide form which is not nearly as bio available as in phosphate form. Like less than half as available.
So if I understand correctly, your saying that the magnesium shows min 16% and max 20%, then because it is in oxide form that they will only absorb maybe half the values? Like maybe min 8% and max 10% if your lucky?If you're wanting the mag then I would want to ask an expert if this is what you want. According to the label the mag is in oxide form which is not nearly as bio available as in phosphate form. Like less than half as available.
Well I guess if the oxide form is 20% available and phosphate is 40%+ available you would need to figure out how much you want to get into them to decide if it's right for you. One thing is that they claim magnesium oxide is more palatable than the phosphate so that's a consideration as well. But like I said before, there's lots of folks know a lot more than I do, hopefully they will chime in for you.So if I understand correctly, your saying that the magnesium shows min 16% and max 20%, then because it is in oxide form that they will only absorb maybe half the values? Like maybe min 8% and max 10% if your lucky?
I know nothing of Vitafirm, but I'm certain its not the only good mineral available. Don't overthink it, ask the local feed store manager what minerals the local ranches prefer. You may be surprised how many cattle get by with nothing but a brown salt block, if that.
Interesting readThis is a great article about Magnesium from the Dairy side of things. I like to read Dairy articles because they seem to dig deeper as Milk cows are more susceptible to problems when their nutrients are off. So they micromanage them. So this is a good read... Short, but good.
Tells you how to increase the absorption of Magnesium oxide up to 25% more if that is the source that you feed.
I feed Co-op minerals too. Ultimate Minerals # 96660 almost has it down but we all can find areas we want to add more to it.May not be the best, but I get mineral from the local CO-OP. I get #663 and keep out pretty much year round. They consume it well most of the year. Sometimes they don't eat much. Seems forage dependent.
Last year I fed some with garlic and cinnamon for fly control, after 2 weeks it really seemed to help. It was VitaFerm maybe. Can't recall exactly the brand. Smelled strong.
Trace... may literally be the size of a grain of sand over the entire lifetime of an animal."
One gram over a life time? Less than a grain of sand over a lifetime? I will disagree and advise those reading this to do their own research on the topic. If a student is here looking for information for a school report, I advise to not use that grain of sand info. Research grass tetany and the effect on the health and life (or death) of an animal. Grass tetany is real and can result in quick death due to low or out of balance magnesium levels.
Those ingredients in minerals certainly are a supplement to the minerals in the feed they eat. So the absolute requirement for supplemental mineral depends on the mineral content of grass, hay and feedstuff the cow gets.