IMPROVED pregnancy rates in northern Australian cattle are expected from the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge, a 12-month program run by animal health company Virbac Australia.
The challenge gives seven participants the chance to experience first-hand the benefits of Multimin’s trace mineral injection, with assistance from expert mentors.
Challengers received 12 months of free Multimin product and a tailored nutrition program developed by leading industry mentors.
With each challenger sharing their program results and experiences, Charles Darwin University’s Katherine Rural Campus trial site is the latest to take part. Based 16km north of Katherine, NT, the site is managed by Jessica Di Pasquale, Alison Haines and Noah Taylor, who together operate a Brahman stud and Brahman-cross commercial herd from an on-site farm and stud at the university’s training facility.
Their goals are to increase fertility, conception and productivity and improve immunity and health, under the expert guidance of Multimin mentor Dr Amanda Dunn from Katherine Veterinary Care Centre.
As part of the trial, 92 non-pregnant adult cows were assigned one of two treatment groups at random, and have been given either Multimin or no Multimin (control herd) four weeks before bulls were introduced in November.
In March 2019, all trial animals will be pregnancy-tested, and the resulting data will measure each cow’s pregnancy status, foetus age and animal weight.
“We’ll be sharing our observations over the coming months,” Jessica said. “Previous field trials have proven that breeders treated with Multimin have significantly higher conception rates earlier in the calving season, we’re expecting to see improved conception at first cycle from these latest trials.”
Multimin for cattle has a balanced ratio of four trace minerals: selenium, copper, manganese and zinc.
Virbac Australia livestock nutrition product manager Dr Jerry Liu said the challenge was an opportunity for producers to learn more.
