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Effect of organic zinc and selenium on dairy cow productivity and fertility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

A. I. Macrae
Affiliation:
Dairy Herd Health and Productivity Service, Division of Veterinary Clinical Studies, R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, EBVC, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
L. Hodgson-Jones
Affiliation:
Langhill Farm, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9ST, United Kingdom
K. Aitchison
Affiliation:
Langhill Farm, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9ST, United Kingdom
S Burton
Affiliation:
Langhill Farm, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9ST, United Kingdom
D. Lawson
Affiliation:
Davidson Bros (Shotts) Ltd, Gray Street, Shotts, Lanarkshire, ML7 5EW, United Kingdom
D. Wilde*
Affiliation:
Alltech (UK) Ltd, Alltech House, Ryhall Road, stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1TZ, United Kingdom
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Extract

Major changes have been occurring over the last 20 years in the UK dairy industry, with improvements in cow genetics and nutritional management resulting in a doubling of average milk yields to 6,750 litres/cow/year by 2004 (DEFRA, 2005). The same period has resulted in a decline of dairy cow fertility parameters with recent studies having identified a 1% fall in conception rates per annum (Royal et al., 2000). The role of organic forms of trace minerals has been examined in ruminant diets with particular regard to their role in immune function (Spears, 2000). The aim of the study was to examine the effect of feeding an organic source of zinc (Bioplex Zinc™, Alltech Inc. USA) and selenium yeast (Sel-Plex™, Alltech Inc. USA) to high yielding Holstein dairy cows on production and reproductive performance.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2007

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References

DEFRA 2005. Economics and statistics. http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/ Google Scholar
Royal, M.D., Darwash, A.O., Flint, A.P.F., Webb, R., Woolliams, A.J. and Lamming, G.E. 2000. Declining fertility in dairy cattle: changes in traditional and endocrine parameters of fertility. Animal Science. 70: 487–501 Google Scholar
Spears, J.W. 2000. Micronutrients and immune function in cattle. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 59: 587–594 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed