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Livestock Need the Right Minerals in their Water

Water is a vital nutrient not only for humans, but for animals as well — that's why it's important to test water quality to ensure livestock are getting the proper minerals.
 
Livestock specialist Natasha Wilkie says water high in sulphates can react with trace minerals like copper, which can affect the gastrointestinal tract and thiamin production in the animal. Wilkie says this can lead to copper and thiamin deficiencies in cattle, which can result in poor weight gain, polioencephalomalacia, and even blindness.
 
But she explains there's something producers can do about that.
 
"You can give (cattle) mineral supplementation that has copper in it," Wilkie says. "General rules of thumb we have, are if your animals are in mid-gestation, so kind of that four to six months pregnant, then you can give them one to two ounces per cow. Late pregnancy, so that's seven to nine months pregnant, then two to three ounces per cow is recommended."
 
Source : Portageonline

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Interview with Dr. Jayson Lusk: Market Impact of the Global Adoption of PRRS-Resistant Pigs

Video: Interview with Dr. Jayson Lusk: Market Impact of the Global Adoption of PRRS-Resistant Pigs

What is the economic impact of adopting the PRRS-resistant pig for farmers in the U.S.?

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Jayson Lusk, Dean of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University, shares insights from his latest research on the market impact of PRRS-resistant pigs.

Insights include:

•What happens to the global market if farmers in the U.S. adopt the PRRS-resistant pig

•The risks of not adopting the technology

•The ways pork producers can remain competitive against other proteins


This could be a pivotal moment for the pork industry – both for improving animal welfare and for enhancing the viability of pork producers.