Multi-vitamins & minerals for calf/cow

dungfly

Is there really any difference between calf and cow multi vits just a marketing gimmick? Take a look at the contents of theses products for calves & cows

Calf multivits
http://mcleanfarmproducts.co.uk/PDF/Growvite%20Calf.pdf

Cow multivits
http://www.univet.net/os_growvite_forte.html

I would have presumed there would have been a bigger difference. Could I just use the one (cow multivitamin) for both at appropriate dosage?

Farrell

We give Vitamins here, with Oral Dosing.
Gave Grovite 1 year, didn't notice any improvment on no vitamin at all.
Lately we give Headstart (Osmonds) to Cows / Ewes, & Grow-a-drop to Calves / Lambs. I notice a difference with Cattle not getting anything.
Last Year, I gave 1 Calf HeadStart by mistake, I did notice how the others were slightly ahead at the next dosing.
To me something is better than nothing, but you're best to trial to see which gives best preformance on your farm (every farm is different).

dungfly

My approach is to give multi vitamins in very small doses to calves and cows all the time in the drinking water trough. Its very easy.

MayoSalmon

Vitamins for Cows:rolleyes::rolleyes:

cant touchthis

Good few recent studies show alot of vitamin supplements are useless or down right harmful to humans, is it not the same for cows?

Gillespy

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Vitamins for Cows:rolleyes::rolleyes:

How old and out of date is your research into this subject?

http://www.wcds.ca/proc/2006/Manuscripts/Weiss2.pdf

dungfly

Gillespy wrote: »

How old and out of date is your research into this subject?

http://www.wcds.ca/proc/2006/Manuscripts/Weiss2.pdf

Link does not work.

Farrell

cant touchthis wrote: »

Good few recent studies show alot of vitamin supplements are useless or down right harmful to humans, is it not the same for cows?

Have heard that vitimans for humans is just expensive P*ss.
Was told that cows (maybe humans too) don't store minerals, & what's not absurbed just passes through
As Dungfly says, small doses.

dungfly

Farrell wrote: »

Have heard that vitimans for humans is just expensive P*ss.
Was told that cows (maybe humans too) don't store minerals, & what's not absurbed just passes through
As Dungfly says, small doses.

I have done alot of research on multivitamins and minerals. I also like to be practical. Compare the use of supplements to that used in humans. People don't just take a bolus of supplements on a one off, they take a small dose over a prolonged peroid of months. I give all animals a very small dose (usually 10% per day) in the drinking water which I find very convenient. My logic is where animals need supplementation then it is readily available for them. I reckon that this idea of a single dose is a convenience solution to an intermittent problem. i.e. its just marketing bull.

Oldtree

dungfly wrote: »

I have done alot of research on multivitamins and minerals. I also like to be practical. Compare the use of supplements to that used in humans. People don't just take a bolus of supplements on a one off, they take a small dose over a prolonged peroid of months. I give all animals a very small dose (usually 10% per day) in the drinking water which I find very convenient. My logic is where animals need supplementation then it is readily available for them. I reckon that this idea of a single dose is a convenience solution to an intermittent problem. i.e. its just marketing bull.

I think that is the right approach. I do something similar with my plants in the polytunnel, in that I give them a liquid feed which I bolster with liquid seaweed, which is full of micronutrients, making the plants stronger and better able to deal with disease, I hope

There are studies arising at the moment saying that the form vitamins are taking are not readily absorbed by humans and it is better to get the vitamins we need from our food through healthy eating. I feel better taking my vitamins but it may just be a placebo effect, but I have had specific vitamins for specific purposes and they improved things for me beyond a placebo effect imo.

dungfly

For me using a dilute solution (eg 10%) lasts a long time and I presume is more bio available if it is there continouslly as opposed to when an animal is under stress (eg scouring).

MayoSalmon

Gillespy wrote: »

How old and out of date is your research into this subject?

http://www.wcds.ca/proc/2006/Manuscripts/Weiss2.pdf

I'd wonder if the Pharmaceutical industry ever have to pinch themselves.

dungfly

Gillespy wrote: »

How old and out of date is your research into this subject?

http://www.wcds.ca/proc/2006/Manuscripts/Weiss2.pdf

Great link and summary of relevant info