What vitamins do calves need and how to give it correctly, intake rates
The newborn calf can receive adequate nutrition from the mother's milk. This is enough at the beginning. But as the pet grows, it needs a new diet. Today there are many complexes that help saturate the body with important substances. Moreover, their lack causes various health problems. The use of special vitamins for calves helps to correct the situation.
Signs of a Calf Vitamin Deficiency
There are many elements that are important for cattle. Their lack is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms:
- With a deficiency of vitamin D, limping occurs, tooth loss and inflammation of the gums, bone deformation, and activity decreases. The calf may lick walls, urine, or other objects. Sometimes the animal eats stones.
- Vitamin A deficiency manifests itself in the form of increased dryness of the mucous membranes, growth disorders, and visual impairment. There is also a risk of inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system.
- With an insufficient amount of B vitamins, coordination of movements suffers, joints swell, digestion is disturbed, and the body is depleted.
What vitamins are used for the rapid growth of calves
The main vitamins for calves are A and D. When they are deficient, irreversible processes develop. They negatively affect the development of animals and subsequent productivity.
The rest of the vitamins are natural synergists. Without them, there are problems with the absorption of many compounds. For substances to provide good results, they must be given in combination. So, the main vitamins for fattening calves include:
- A - activates growth processes and normalizes the protective functions of the immune system;
- D - improves the development of bone structures, while with a lack of this substance there is a risk of developing rickets.
Excipients include:
- group B - restore metabolic processes in the body and provide an influx of energy;
- E - is considered a synergist of vitamin A and helps protect cells from oxidation.
If the calf does not receive enough vitamins, destructive processes can develop in its body. This entails the development of various pathologies and can even cause death. Auxiliary vitamins are also important. However, their lack does not lead to the death of the pet.
When can I start giving?
Calves receive the first vitamins from their mother's milk from birth. If the cow calves in the fall or winter, there is a risk of nutritional deficiencies. In such a situation, it is worth adding a few drops of complex vitamins to milk.In this case, you need to use formulations for newborns.
Admission rate
The daily amount of vitamins depends on their variety:
- A - calves need 30,000-40,000 IU;
- D - you need to give 3000-4000 international units;
- E - give in the amount of 30-40 international units;
- B1 - use 30 milligrams.
It is recommended to give any vitamin complexes to calves in compliance with the instructions and recommendations of the veterinarian.
How to feed calves correctly
To prevent complex pathologies associated with a lack of vitamins, powders should be added to the prepared feed. If the animal has complications, drugs are injected. This can be done subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
In powders
Today, there are many effective remedies that help to improve the condition of calves and saturate their bodies with valuable substances. For this, you can use the mixture "Gavryusha" - a premix for calves. It contains vitamins A, D3, E. Also, the tool includes many additional elements - cobalt, iodine, iron, magnesium. When using the substance, it is recommended to mix 1 package of the drug in equal parts with wheat flour. Then add the prepared composition to the feed. Another effective tool is considered "Introvit A + VP". It is a water-soluble complex that includes vitamins of group B, A, C, E, K3, D3. It also contains the following components:
- amino acids - arginine, proline, serine, tryptophan;
- minerals - sodium chloride, ferrous sulfate, magnesium, sodium, manganese.
The therapeutic dosage is 0.5 grams per 10 kilograms of live weight. The prophylactic dose reaches 0.5 grams per 20 kilograms. The course of application should last 3-5 days.
Biomix is considered to be an effective means of supplying the calf with valuable substances. This supplement comes in powder form. It can be used constantly to saturate food with important elements. It is permissible to give the agent to calves whose age ranges from 15 days to six months. The composition contains the following components:
- vitamins of group B, A, E, D3, calcium;
- minerals - this category includes copper, zinc, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, calcium;
- additional substances - these include chalk and wheat.
The product should be given along with food. For 1 individual, it is worth using 50 grams of the substance. The supplement should be given once a day.
In injections
Injections cause severe stress in animals. Therefore, it is permissible to prick useful elements in young animals over six months. For this you can use "Introvit". The tool can be used for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. It helps with vitamin deficiency and metabolic disorders. The composition contains vitamins of group B, A, H, D3, E. Also, the agent includes methionine, lysine. Calves are recommended to inject 5-10 milliliters of the product. This should be done subcutaneously or intramuscularly. It is not required to dilute the substance. The medicine can be used from 6 months.
You can also use "Nucleopeptide" to replenish the lack of vitamins. This natural medicine is made from the spleen of cattle. It is used to increase weight gain, stimulate growth, and develop resistance. Newborn calves are given 100-150 milliliters orally for the first 3 days or injected at 0.1-0.2 milliliters subcutaneously per kilogram of body weight.
Many farmers use antibiotics to treat calves. However, they have nothing to do with vitamins.With their shortage, it is important to solve the problem, and not to aggravate the situation by using means that lead to the destruction of useful flora.
Combination with food intake
A correct and balanced diet in calves is considered an excellent prevention of vitamin deficiency. The main task of farmers is to provide young animals with the optimal amount of vitamins and minerals, regardless of the form of release.
Age and body weight should be taken into account when formulating a diet. This will help you select the required dose of drugs and add them to the feed. Also, a lot of vegetables and root crops should be introduced into the diet of calves. They also need compound feed.
The effect of stimulants on the human body
Do not be afraid to give animals useful substances. They contribute to the improvement of their growth and development and at the same time do not affect the state of the human body. In this case, it is important to strictly observe the dosage. For calves to grow and develop normally, they need a sufficient amount of vitamins. Farmers should be aware of the main symptoms of vitamin deficiency. This will help avoid the development of complex pathologies that can lead to the death of the pet.
