Trace mineral demands vary depending on the stage of the animal’s production cycle. Topping-up is when animals are strategically supplemented with trace minerals prior to critical events in the production cycle such as joining, lambing and weaning. Topping-up aims to meet a short term demand and optimise the trace mineral status of the animals prior to a critical or stressful event.
Figure 1 illustrates the topping-up strategy. Trace mineral demands increase during a critical event and trace minerals can therefore decline to low levels rapidly and remain at low levels for a significant period of time before slowly returning to optimal levels. By implementing a topping-up program (approximately 4 weeks prior to a critical event) trace minerals will not fall to such low levels and will return to optimal levels sooner, assisting in animal recovery. This theory known as “topping-up” should be included in all sheep production programs to help meet short term trace mineral demand of animals during high periods of stress (joining, lambing and weaning). Virbac’s Multimin is the perfect solution for topping up your animal’s reserves. In an easy injectable form, the minerals are rapidly absorbed and efficiently utilised by the animal.
For more informaton, speak to one of our Animal Production Specialists today.
