Cattlemen, its time to book your mineral!

It's time to book your mineral, cattlemen. The Ag Valley Co-op Feed Department provides a complete line of minerals that are advantageous to both the mother cow and the calf. To keep flies away this summer, our calving and breeding minerals, HiMag Mag, and 8 Phos all include various fly control agents. Why is mineral so important to cattle? The University of NebraskaLincoln divides mineral into four major categories.

Skeletal Development and Maintenance

The essential minerals required for bone development in developing cattle and maintaining healthy bones in mature cattle are calcium and phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorus are both primarily stored in bones, which can also supply these nutrients to an animal in short-term deficiency. Weak and brittle bones, declines in feed efficiency, and body condition score are all signs of prolonged deficiency in an animal.

Milk Production

It should come as no surprise that milk production needs calcium as milk is a primary supplier of calcium. Calcium deficiency during lactation causes low milk quality and production, which in turn affects the performance of the calf.

Energy

Many minerals are crucial components of the cofactors, molecules, or enzymes that the body needs to produce energy. Minerals including (phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese, and selenium) are essential for metabolism, energy production, and consumption. Reduced growth, productivity, and reproductive ability are the effects of these minerals' deficiencies.

Basic Body Function

Some minerals are necessary for fundamental biological processes. Minerals are essential for a number of vital processes, including immunity, osmotic pressure maintenance, nervous system health, and reproduction. To ensure that cattle's bodies can operate, it's crucial to provide them with a variety of minerals, including calcium, potassium, sodium, chloride, sulfur, cobalt, chromium, iodine, and iron.

Contact an Ag Valley Feed Salesman today for more information on mineral. Kurt Nielsen (308)-830-1687, Katy Bowers (402)-803-0616, Mike Cavalli (308)-778-6144, Danny Heijtmanek (308)362-4228, Jim Fries (308) 962-6497, and Glenn Hilker (308)-340-2930.

Thank you to those who attended our Producer Summit in McCook on February 15th! We had a great event and look forward to having you there next year!

L to R: Keynote Shawn Hackett spoke on Weather and Markets. Right the group listening to informational speakers.