Tasmanian Multimin Performance Ready Challenger
I’m Richard Sutton from King Island, Tasmania. I am a beef farmer producing MSA grade yearlings with 500 cows. Taroona Pastoral is situated at Egg Lagoon which is on the northern end of King Island and is approximately 1,000 hectares in size. We have three different soil types here, some heavier country, some semi-coastal lighter country and some sand dune country on the West coast. King Island is deficient in Copper, B12, Selenium and Zinc.
Multimin Program
We recently started a calf survival and fertility trial with 200 of our older cows as part of the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge. Generally we don’t have too many problems with pregnancy rates in our cows, however last year’s rate was down on previous years and this may have been to do with the mineral program prior to calving.
The aim of this trial is to increase conception rate in the older cows by 1-2%. This might only be a small lift but every pregnancy helps to increase the overall production of Taroona Pastoral.
Multimin Treatment
Recently (30 days pre-calving), all cows were given a treatment of 7 in 1 and Pestivirus vaccine and one portion were treated with Multimin and the other with Copper injection. Multimin treated animals will receive a second dose of Multimin in October (30 days before joining).
In February we will be able to determined the benefits of Multimin by comparing preg test results in the treated cows versus non treated animals. Conception rate and during which oestrus cycle the cow conceived will be recorded. We are confident with the results we will see in our treated cows and will continue to use Multimin again in February once the trial ends.
The Multimin Challenge is a great opportunity for me to learn more about mineral treatment for our cattle and I am keen to perfect our mineral program for optimal performance.
