Phosphorus just the tonic for needy cows

· Strong demand from vets and farmers

· Highest amount of phosphorus available for nutritional supplementation

Auckland Monday 11 June 2018 – Dairy cows are the elite athletes of milk production and as such need to be kept in top condition.

That’s the view of Bayer veterinarian Peter Pulford who has been leading a project to boost dairy cow health through the use of phosphorus as a supplement.

“Over many generations, dairy cows have been bred to provide milk for the human diet in quantities far exceeding those required to rear a calf.

“Cows must deliver a calf annually and have to transition between being pregnant to non-pregnant, not milking to milking and from low to high levels of feed.

“All this can draw heavily on a cow’s reserves leading to various diseases such as milk fever, grass staggers and ketosis.”

Pulford says the company has an existing range of standard metabolic treatments and nutritional supplements for cows, but the need for a new phosphorus supplement became apparent with the increase in fodder beet being used as winter feed.

“Fodder beet has become a popular winter feed for cattle, but it’s well-known to be relatively low in both phosphorus and calcium.

“Feedback from farmers and veterinarians also convinced us that we should look into providing more phosphorus in a supplement.”

Bayer took the feedback on board and launched Calform Phosphorus, a unique new nutritional supplement with phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.

Pulford says phosphorus is vital for animal health. It’s not only critical for building strong bones and energy production, but also for growth and cell repair.

“It also works hand-in-hand with calcium, which is vital for muscle function, including the muscles involved with digestion and absorbing phosphorus.

“A well-functioning digestive system will help ensure effective phosphorus absorption and studies have shown the best way to get phosphorus into a cow is orally.”

Pulford says a cow may have an increased need for both phosphorus and calcium when demand outweighs supply.

“This is typically at calving and during lactation – especially early lactation when the production of colostrum and milk draws heavily on a cow’s reserves.

“It’s important we take care of our production animals during times of increased demand on them. Just like our elite athletes, they need to be in peak physical condition to deliver the goods.”

For more information, visit www.bayeranimal.co.nz or phone 0800 927 733.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In New Zealand, we support numerous community and environmental causes, including United Way New Zealand, the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre and the New Zealand Innovation Awards.

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