Dietary minerals Archives - Manitoba Co-operator

The critical role of magnesium in horse health

Short-changing a horse on magnesium can impact both physical health and temperament

By Carol Shwetz March 20, 2023

Magnesium is an essential macro-mineral that plays a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of horses. It is essential for more than 350 biochemical processes in the body of the horse, including generation of cellular energy and decoding genetic information. Understanding the importance of magnesium at the cellular level and its impact on health issues can help

Reproductive issues are often a sign of mineral deficiency and can occur whether cattle are grazing or being fed winter rations.

Livestock, News

Choosing the right mineral supplements for cattle can be daunting

Whether grazing or on a winter ration, cattle need mineral supplements to avoid health problems

By Beef Cattle Research Council January 10, 2022

What mineral supplementation do I need and when do I need it? Beef producers might know they should supplement their herds with mineral, but trying to wade through all the choices at the livestock supply store can be overwhelming. Commercial suppliers seem to make claims and offer something different, but with tubs and bags of

Livestock, Other livestock

The importance of feeding salt to horses

Horse Health: A horse’s behaviour is the best sign of a salt deficiency, rather than subtle and non-specific symptoms 

By Carol Shwetz January 11, 2017

Salt is the most important mineral required by horses, yet its importance is often overlooked in favour of seemingly more important minerals. Although the majority of a horse’s mineral quota will be met with a good-quality long-stem forage, the salt content in grasses and hay is too low for the needs of a horse. Consequently

Too much or too little copper in feed rations can both cause health problems for sheep.

Livestock

Balancing copper content a challenge for shepherds

Some soils provide too much, some too little, and both can be deadly

By Jennifer Paige November 15, 2016

Varying rates of copper in the soil across Canada has been giving sheep producers a tough go. In September, the Manitoba Sheep Association reported that through June and July, processing plants in Ontario saw an increase in the number of adult carcasses being condemned due to jaundice. “Copper toxicity is what is causing the jaundice

Crops, Did you know?, News

Rising CO2 levels may cut nutrient levels in crops, study finds

Wheat and rice were lower in zinc, iron and protein at higher levels of CO2

By Will Dunham May 15, 2014

Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may cut the nutritional quality of some of the world’s most important food crops, researchers reported May 7 after conducting experiments simulating conditions expected by mid-century. The amounts of two important nutrients, zinc and iron, were found to be lower in wheat, rice, soybeans and field peas

Country Crossroads, Dairy cattle

Yes, we still need to limit salt intake

By Julie Garden-Robinson March 28, 2013

Here’s some tips to help you manage that You may have heard the advice to leave your salt shaker in the cupboard, however, most of the salt in foods is not added at the table. Most sodium comes from highly processed foods, such as dinner mixes, or from restaurant or fast foods. Most table salt

Livestock

WHO issues its first guidelines for sodium intake for children

By Stephanie Nebehay February 12, 2013

Reuters / The World Health Organization (WHO) has for the first time recommended limits on children’s daily consumption of sodium, which it hoped would help in the global fight against diet-related diseases becoming chronic among all populations. In advice to its 194 member states Jan. 31, the UN agency noted high sodium levels were a

Hogs, Livestock

Bone fractures may be linked to dietary mineral levels

By Bernie Peet November 15, 2012

The incidence of hog carcass contamination and trimming related to spine fractures is increasing at Olymel’s Red Deer processing plant and possibly at other plants, according to Eduardo Beltranena, monogastrics research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. While the incidence is not widespread, for some farms this problem is up to six times more

Forages, Livestock, Other livestock

Alfalfa hays: merging myth and reality

By Carol Shwetz November 10, 2012

One of the most misunderstood feedstuffs in the horse industry today is alfalfa hay. Its position in the feeding program of horses is both revered and spurned. To unravel its benefits and the harms it is necessary to understand the nutrient-rich profile of this hay. When understood, it is the overfeeding of alfalfa hay, not

Crops

Be careful applying micronutrients, says soil scientist Don Flaten

By Allan Dawson October 26, 2012

Some Manitoba soils need micronutrients but “they are very rare,” says Don Flaten, a soil scientist at the University of Manitoba. “We tend to have some of the most fertile soils in North America here (in Western Canada) partly because they’re young,” he said in an interview. “They’re recently glaciated and mixed up and they

Daily Network News

Bird flu virus could risk pandemic worse than COVID if it mutates, France’s Institut Pasteur says

Canadian alpacas impress American judge at Agribition

U.S. grains: Chicago grains firm as traders gauge China purchases

Tag Archives Dietary minerals