Strong hoof health is essential for keeping a consistent feed intake while reducing injury prevalence and economic loss, which is why the Garvan Park Feedlot (GPF) team have included quality, specific organic trace mineral, ZinMet®, in their backgrounding process.
With increased wet weather inundating Victorian farmlands and waterlogging pastures, GPF Feedlot Manager Nic Cook noticed more cattle were coming in from the sale yard with sore feet.
Nic says he believes prolonged exposure to waterlogged land was softening the cattle’s hooves before going to the sale yards, where standing and walking on hard surfaces was leading to sore feet for the stock.
“When hooves are wet for extended periods, it can soften the tissue making bruising and penetration injuries more common,” he says.
Operating since 2004, Garvan Park Feedlot is capable of running 3500 head of cattle where they feed mixed breeds of cattle.
The GPF team include ZinMet® in their feedlot feed but also in their supplemental feed for backgrounding cattle to get them ready for intensive feeding.
“When cattle have sore feet, they’re less likely to travel through the paddock to access supplemental feed which, in turn, affects their performance and means they start their intensive feeding at a lower weight,” Nic says.
“Including ZinMet® into their feed, we started noticing an improvement in the hoof health of affected cattle within a couple of weeks, walking more confidently.”
Nic Cook, Garvan Park Feedlot
A combined source of specific organic trace minerals, zinc and chromium, ZinMet® stimulates keratin (the protein that helps form hooves) production in treated animals, accelerating hoof growth, hoof hardening, and maintaining cellular integrity.
Nic says GPF has been using ZinMet® for about four years, and when the weather is particularly wet and on the suggestion from their nutritionist, they double the dosage to ensure the stock are getting what they need.
Austasia Animal Products National Sales Manager Paul Lloyd says ZinMet®’s unique complexation of zinc and chromium boosts the performance of feedlot cattle by improving their cell sensitivity to insulin.
“Insulin plays a critical role in many of the physiological functions in beef cattle and chromium is the essential trace element that makes it happen,” he said.
“Recent research has found ZinMet® enhanced feedlot cattle performance with a 3% increase in average daily gains and a 2.3% improvement in dry matter feed conversion.
“This combination of minerals is bound to a specific organic escort, methionine, which helps bypass rumen degradation at approximately 80%, making ZinMet® more readily available for absorption through the gastrointestinal tract.”
Proudly manufactured in AAP’s state-of-the-art facility at Forbes, NSW, ZinMet® is the only specific-organic trace mineral additive in the domestic market made in Australia.
Nic said his experience working with AAP had been positive, appreciating the professional and personal services they provide.
“Our AAP Sales Manager Liam drops in to see how we’re going, and since working with him, he has taken the time to get to know our operation and what we’re trying to achieve,” he says.
“If there are cattle producers, feedlots or farmers looking to improve the hoof health of their cattle, I recommend introducing ZinMet® or working with Austasia Animal Products.”
Learn more about our quality-specific organic trace mineral, ZinMet®, and its benefits for feedlot cattle.
Gut health is the cornerstone to boosting the gains and condition of your cattle, which is why Cadelga Cattle Company Directors Jason and Maureen Johnstone have included the market’s most extensively researched direct-fed microbial probiotic, Beef Culture, in their feeding program.
Jason and Maureen opened the gates to the Cadelga Cattle Company feedlot in the heart of the Darling Downs in 2018. Running about 5000 head of cattle, they feed a combination of British breeds for the domestic market and Black Angus on a longer-fed program for the export market.
Beginning their feeding operation, Jason and Maureen met with Austasia Animal Products where they were introduced to AAP’s signature specific organic trace mineral additives and premium probiotic products.
“At the time of opening Cadelga Cattle Company, Australia was in the groups of an intense drought,” Maureen said.
“The 2018 drought affected the majority of the Eastern Coast, with little rainfall making its way to the mainland which impacted the pasture quality for local farms. We had noticed the decline in the pasture quality had affected the condition of incoming cattle.
"Because the quality of pasture wasn't providing enough sustenance for the cattle coming in, we our own research for a product to help improve the gut health of our cattle which led us to Beef Culture."
Maureen Johnstone, Cadelga Cattle Company
“AAP had the research and the data supporting positive benefits Beef Culture presents.”
Beef Culture is a direct-fed microbial that consists of Christian Hansen’s patented combination of Lactobacillus animallis and Propionibacterium freudenreichii, which is prepared at AAP’s state-of-the-art facility in Forbes, NSW.
This combination of lactic acid-producing and utilising bacteria enables changes to the gastrointestinal microflora, inhibiting the growth of gram-negative pathogens such as Salmonella, E coli., and Clostridia.
AAP National Business Manager Paul Lloyd said by inhibiting the growth of gram-negative pathogens in cattle, Beef Culture encourages the lengthening of intestinal villi which leads to an increased capacity for nutrient absorption.
“Improving the digestive system in feedlot cattle at the start of a feeding program sets up the foundation to better utilise their feed to improve their health performance,” he said.
“Enhancing the intestinal health of feeding cattle can remove the roadblocks to set your cattle up for success.”
After introducing Beef Culture into their feeding program, Jason and Maureen started to see positive changes in their cattle after about two weeks.
“The cattle that we introduced Beef Culture to were producing manure that was of a healthy consistency,” Maureen said.
“Working with AAP, they’ve taken the time to get to know not only our operation but also Jason and I with their excellent personable service. I recommend Austasia Animal Products, ZinMet, and Beef Culture to any lot feeders looking to enhance the performance of their operation.”
Learn more about the market’s most extensively researched probiotic additive, Beef Culture, and its benefits for beef cattle.
Our Sales Team had the pleasure of attending the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association’s SmartBeef 2023 conference at Tamworth, NSW last month.
AAP CEO Gerhard along with Paul, Iain, Liam, Jason, and Tony from our team attended the two-day conference where they were able to catch up with our customers and colleagues while learning about the latest developments in the feedlot industry.
Throughout the conference, our team got an update about shade management from two of NSW’s prominent feedlot facilities from Andrew Talbot, Elders Killara Feedlot General Manager and Alex Smith, Rangers Valley Feedlot Manager.
Paul said AAP was proud to support SmartBeef 2023, sponsoring the SmartBeef Campdraft Competition.
“We have been proudly supporting Australian livestock industries since 1998, and sponsoring events such as SmartBeef 2023 is a great way to keep in touch with what is going on with our customers and the beef feedlot industry as a whole,” he said.
Some insights from SmartBeef 2023 included the benefits of investing in shelters to improve cattle performance.
“It was interesting to hear how feedlots are starting to utilise shelter to mitigate stress coming from the heat, rain and cold,” Paul said.
“Some operations are now investing in purpose-built shedding allowing them to harvest rainfall, or outfitting them with solar to power their feedlot. Building purpose-built infrastructure allows these operations to get more utility from their investment.”
ALFA President Barb Madden said the massive success of SmartBeef23 wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from our sponsors and Platinum Members.
“We thank everyone who came to the event. It was wonderful to host the largest crowd we have ever seen at a SmartBeef, it shows the strength in our industry,” she said.
Learn more about Australia's market leader in specific organic trace mineral and probiotic additives for local livestock industries.
