I’m hearing reports of scarcity and rising prices for dry cow and other minerals.

As reported in the Irish Farmers Journal, suppliers are blaming a factory fire in Germany.

My understanding is that the fire in the BASF factory only affects the manufacture of vitamins A and E.

Meanwhile, I’m seeing cases where inclusion rates of many other nutrients have decreased while prices have increased, so buyer beware.

The only mineral that should be reduced is iodine. This should be fed at 12mg/day.

In terms of other spec, the dry cow requires between 20g and 25g of magnesium per day before calving.

If the label says there is 20% magnesium in the mineral mix and you are feeding 120g per day, then the cows are getting 24g of magnesium per day.

The next big one is phosphorus.

Not all minerals will have phosphorus included but most cows need around 4g/day before calving.

For selenium, the target is for 5mg or 6mg per day pre-calving.

If it says there is 50mg on the label and if 120g per day is fed, then the cows will be consuming 6mg per day.