August 13, 2007

Australian study says feed additives needed to prevent acidosis

Apart from good quality grains, feed additives or buffers are also needed to prevent acidosis or grain poisoning in livestock, according to a report by the independent Australian farm research organisation, the Kondinin Group.

Kondinin Group livestock researcher Pamela Lawson said as livestock producers spend millions of dollars annually on additives, only a few farmers know if these are necessary and cost-effective. She said the convenience of feeding livestock ready-made supplements and additives compared with grain alone, and gaining similar production results, has helped producers maintain healthy, more productive animals, but a cost of course is involved. Trial results showed it was necessary for grain fed animals to receive additives or buffers at least twice a week.

Lawson added that cattle producers needed to add ground limestone at 1 to 1.5 percent of grain to redress calcium deficiencies balance the high phosphorous content of the grain and help prevent acidosis. Limestone can be added up to 3 percent for the first week or two, to initially limit grain intake.

The research covers an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of various types of additives, such as drenches, injections, rumen capsules, dry licks, liquid supplements, pellets and water additives. Depending on the grain used, it could be necessary to add buffers such as limestone, salt, sodium bentonite or sodium bicarbonate to the feed mix, according to the report.