Pre-lambing trace mineral supplementation

Pre-lambing ewes have elevated trace mineral requirements. Not only do they require nutrients for maintaining their own body functions, they must also provide nutrients for their rapidly-developing foetus(es). 

This is compounded by reduced feed intake, particularly in ewes carrying twins. Any compromise to the immune system caused by poor nutrition, environmental conditions or physiological stresses increases the animal’s risk of disease. While clinical disease can cause obvious signs of sickness or death, even sub-clinical (non-visible) disease can cause significant production losses via reduced fertility, milk production or weight gain. 

Boeta Wessels of Weska Dohnes has been using Multimin in his sheep flock since 1994 with huge success. He farms in the Bredasdorp area, which is notoriously poor in trace minerals.

‘Topping up’ levels of essential minerals 4 to 6 weeks before lambing helps to maintain the health of ewes and lambs. In ewes, it can help to reduce the incidence of foot abscesses, lameness, mastitis, retained membranes and metritis, all of which can have a negative impact on subsequent conception rates. Ensuring the lamb is born with optimum levels of trace minerals helps to increase survival rates and development. 

One of the easiest ways to boost the immune system is to ensure pre-lambing ewes receive a rapidly-absorbed ‘top up’ of essential trace minerals. Multimin makes your sheep ‘performance ready’ by boosting all three parts of the immune system (physical barriers, such as integrity of the skin and hooves; non-specific immune response, for example antibodies acquired at birth via colostrum; and specific immune response, like immune response from vaccines).