OPTIMAL PRODUCTIVITY RELIES ON ADEQUATE NUTRITION

Although cattle can appear to have ample feed, they can still fail to thrive because of nutritional deficiencies.
Selenium, cobalt and copper are particularly important trace elements and adequate amounts must be supplied in the diet for optimal stock health.
Severe nutritional deficiencies cause serious diseases and even death, however, undetected sub-clinical deficiencies can have a major impact on productivity.
Correction of these sub-clinical deficiencies can lead to significant improvements in growth rates, milk production and fertility in cattle.

MINERAL DEFICIENT AREAS

SELENIUM DEFICIENCY
Soil Type - acid/sandy soils where there is an annual rainfall over 450mm.
Main Areas - the Northern and Southern tablelands of NSW, coastal and South East Queensland, parts of Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the eastern half of Tasmania. Selenium deficiency in marginal soils can be exacerbated by the use of superphosphate as sulphur reduces the uptake of selenium by plants giving rise to selenium deficient pastures. Sulphur also increases the growth of legumes which are poor absorbers of selenium.
COPPER DEFICIENCY
Soil Type - sandy soils and those containing excessive amounts of other minerals such as molybdenum, sulphur, zinc, iron, cadmium and calcium which reduce copper's availability to livestock.
Main Areas - coastal regions.
COBALT DEFICIENCY
Soil Type - highly weathered and leached sandy soils.
Main Areas - the Tenterfield region of northern NSW and along the Victorian, South Australian and Western Australian coastlines. Cobalt is taken up more readily by clovers which contain approximately twice the quantity of grasses.
PRODUCTIVITY
Responses to trace element supplementation have been observed in a number of areas outside the recognised deficient areas. Regional veterinary advisers and local veterinarians should be consulted for further information.

A full year's protection against productivity losses
How Important is Selenium?
Selenium deficiency in dairy and beef cattle can lead to a number of conditions which can significantly reduce productivity.
These include:

• white muscle disease (WMD) in calves
• reduced growth rate
• lowered milk production
• mastitis
• reproductive failure including retained after-birth
• chronic diarrhea in calves
• greater susceptibility to disease as a result of reduced immune system function

Field reports suggest that improving the selenium status of cattle may have beneficial effects other than enhanced productivity. The effects are assumed to be as a direct result of improved immune system function. These reports include reduction in the incidence of scouring, pneumonia, pinkeye, eye cancer and an improved response to vaccination programs.
Once selenium deficiency is identified, annual supplementation with Permatrace® Selenium pellets should be instigated to keep stock in optimal health.

Field trials support the use of selenium supplements

DAIRY CATTLE

Fertility Increased
In cattle, fertility appears to be one of the first things affected in a selenium deficient herd.
Permatrace® Selenium pellets significantly increased first service pregnancy rates in dairy cows suspected to be deficient in selenium.
Milk Production Increased
In a large New Zealand study supplementation with selenium lead to:

• MILK VOLUME UP 4.6%
• MILK FAT UP 3.7%

Mastitis Decreased
Treatment with Permatrace® Selenium pellets significantly reduced the incidence of sub-clinical mastitis over a 10 month period in dairy cows:
A lower incidence of mastitis means increased milk production and lower somatic cell counts.

BEEF CATTLE

Greater Weight Gains

Permatrace® Selenium increased daily weight gains by 11-136% when compared to untreated animals and by up to 8% when compared to stock receiving injectable selenium.

IF YOUR BEEF OR DAIRY CATTLE ARE AT RISK, YOU CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO BE USING COOPERS® PERMATRACE® SELENIUM

THE PRODUCT

Coopers® Permatrace® Selenium pellets contain 10% selenium in a base of compressed iron grit. They were developed by the CSIRO and contain the correct particle size to slowly and evenly release selenium over a minimum period of 12 months. The matrix of the pellet will remain in the rumen indefinitely and may be seen at slaughter.
Permatrace® Selenium pellets are the safest and most effective form of supplementation. The effects of selenium drenches and injections are short lived and repeat treatments are required. Under dosing or excessive dosage leading to toxicity can also be a problem with injections and drenches.

Effect of selenium pellets on blood selenium concentrations in beef cows for 2 years following supplementation.

WITH PERMATRACE® SELENIUM PELLETS YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOUR CATTLE ARE ADEQUATELY COVERED FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS AFTER DOSING.

The copper supplement which protects your stock for a full year.

How Important is Copper?
Copper deficiency can have a major impact on stock health and productivity. Deficiency can result in:

• poor growth rates
• fading of coat colour and loss in hair condition
• lowered milk production
• lameness/bone softness
• intermittent scouring
• reduced fertility
• anemia and falling disease

It is unwise to treat stock of unknown copper status as an excess of copper can be toxic. If you are in a marginal or copper deficient region, consult your veterinarian who can check the copper status of your stock by taking blood or liver samples. Often the most reliable method of determining copper deficiency is to measure the response to supplementation with Permatrace® Copper as it is much safer than other forms of copper.

The two animals on the left are copper deficient. Note the coat colour and
appearance compared to the copper sufficient animal on the right.

Increases in productivity as a result of copper supplementation

Quick Responses
In deficient animals blood copper levels returned to normal within four weeks of supplementation with Permatrace® Copper capsules.

DAIRY CATTLE

Increased Weight Gains and Milk Yields
Copper supplementation in dairy cows deficient in copper resulted in the following weight gains:

*By time of calving at 2.5 years the supplemented heifers averaged 37kg heavier. This increased growth rate represents a substantially increased milk yield of 259 litre's in their first lactation.

BEEF CATTLE

Greater Weight Gains
Copper supplementation in a produced the following group of deficient calves results:

• after 3 months — treated calves 20kg heavier than controls
• after 4 months — treated calves 23kg heavier than controls and slaughter weight increased by 12 kg.

THE PRODUCT

Coopers® Permatrace® Copper capsules contain oxidised copper wire particles. Once administered, the capsule lodges in the rumen where it dissolves and releases the oxidised copper needles. These particles slowly pass through to the fourth stomach where they become solubilised, gradually releasing copper which is absorbed into the blood stream.
Permatrace® Copper capsules are the safe, reliable and long lasting copper supplement for beef and dairy cattle. Oral drenches and injections require repeat applications during the year and can cause toxicity. Paste or suspension type copper injections are often associated with the formation of large reactions at the injection site, while mineral licks supply copper at low levels and can be ineffective due to variable intakes.
WITH PERMATRACE® COPPER CAPSULES YOU KNOW THAT YOUR HERD IS PROTECTED FROM THE PROBLEMS OF COPPER DEFICIENCY FOR A FULL YEAR.

The most efficient form of cobalt supplementation

How Important is Cobalt?
Cobalt deficiency can lead to significant productivity losses because of:

• reduced appetite
• loss of condition
• wasting, scouring and a rough coat
• pale mouth and eye membranes indicating anemia

Cobalt is an essential trace element required for the synthesis of Vitamin B12 by the rumen microbes. Cobalt is essential therefore to ensure adequate Vitamin B12 levels in the animal.
It can be difficult to diagnose cobalt deficiency but the simplest and most reliable method is probably to measure the response of animals to supplementation. Your veterinarian can advise you.

Cobalt supplemented animal on the right, untreated animal on the left.

Weight gain response to Cobalt Supplementation

Cobalt supplementation dramatically increased weight gains in deficient cattle).
Over 94 days the mean weight gain for the treated group was 97kg compared
to the untreated group which gained 52kg on average. This represents a 91% increase in productivity.

IF YOU ARE IN A COBALT DEFICIENT AREA IT MAKES SENSE TO USE PERMATRACE® COBALT PELLETS TO PROTECT YOUR HERD.

THE PRODUCT

Coopers® Permatrace® Cobalt cattle pellets contain 30% cobalt oxide which is slowly released over a period of 1 year. The iron matrix of the pellet will remain in the rumen indefinitely and may be seen at slaughter.
Permatrace® Cobalt pellets are the most efficient and cost effective method of cobalt supplementation because of their long life-span. Oral drenching with cobalt and vitamin B12 injections require repeat treatments increasing stock handling. Top dressing of pastures can be unreliable.

Dosage and Administration

PERMATRACE' SELENIUM PELLETS

• Beef and Dairy Cattle - 2 pellets annually as a single dose

PERMATRACE® COPPER 10 CAPSULES

• Calves up to 200kg - 1 capsule
• Adult Beef and Dairy Cattle over 200kg - 2 capsules annually as a single dose

PERMATRACE® COPPER 20 CAPSULES

• Beef and Dairy Cattle over 200kg - 1 capsule annually

PERMATRACE® COBALT PELLETS

• Beef Cattle - 1 pellet annually
• Growing Dairy Cattle - 1 pellet annually
• Milking Cows - 1 pellet every 6 months
• First Calf Heifers - 1 pellet 3 months before calving