Get More From Your Vaccines: How Strategic Trace Minerals Boost Herd Immunity

As a farmer, you invest significant money in your vaccination program. You do it to protect your herd and your bottom line. But what if that investment isn't delivering its full potential? A vaccine is only as good as the animal's ability to respond to it. Vaccination is a period of high physiological stress, and an animal's immune system needs the right fuel to mount a strong, protective response.
 

Think of the immune system as a factory. When you vaccinate, you're placing a big order for antibodies. This factory needs energy and, more importantly, specialised tools to get the job done. Those tools are essential trace minerals: zinc, manganese, copper, selenium and chromium.

These minerals are critical for three reasons:

1. They build immune cells: The body needs them to produce the B-cells and T-cells that create immunity.

2. They protect the immune system: This is the most critical part. When the immune "factory" ramps up, it creates a lot of "exhaust," or oxidative stress.

• Selenium is a "cornerstone"of the body's natural antioxidant defense system. It is the key ingredient for powerful enzymes (like GSH-Px) that protect immune cells from this oxidative stress.
• Zinc, manganese, and copper are essential cofactors for other key antioxidant enzymes that also protect the body.

3.  They enhance the activity of the immune cells: Chromium is involved in insulin regulation, which in turn ensures immune cells have enough energy to carry out their work

Without a ready supply of these minerals, the immune system is overworked and under-protected, resulting in a weak response to the vaccine.

The “Big 5” Minerals at the Right Quantity and Time

During high-demand periods like vaccination, relying on feed supplements alone can be a gamble. Feed intake is often variable, especially during times of stress, and the rumen environment can interfere with mineral absorption, meaning the animal may not get what it needs. 

This is where a strategic injection of Multimin makes a critical difference.

Because Multimin is injectable, it completely bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This ensures 100% systemic availability of its mineral package. It is a "rapid-acting" tool designed to "rapidly boost the animal's antioxidant and immune capacity" precisely when it's needed most. You're giving the immune system the tools it needs, right when the vaccine order comes in.

Using Multimin at vaccination is a strategic intervention, not just another cost. It helps ensure your animals can respond effectively to the vaccine, leading to better herd immunity. This approach is backed by numerous studies documenting its benefits for livestock immunity. By supporting the animal's natural defense system when it's under the greatest demand, you're protecting your vaccine investment and the future health of your herd.

References to Multimin improving vaccine response is available on request.