Of all the various nutrient groups we supplement for the typical cow herd, minerals and vitamins are some of the most important. They are also some of the most poorly understood.

Calf prices look to be strong for the next few years as the national cow herd continues to bounce back from liquidations related to drought. These market conditions pose a great opportunity to increase profit potential through value-added programs.

Understanding the impact of mineral and vitamin intake in relation to requirements and associated responses in health and performance is a very challenging aspect of beef cattle nutrition.

Discussions of stress are not uncommon in cattle production. A great deal of this discussion is often focused on the stress typical for the weaned/transition calf and its common journey though the U.S. marketing system, which involves a lot of handling and transportation.

Cattle have a requirement and desire for salt, but many producers have been misled to believe that salt blocks, especially trace mineral salt blocks, provide adequate trace mineral.

It’s imperative that weaning goes perfectly because a calf in today’s economic cycle is worth at least $1,500. However, one very important thing can easily be forgotten: the calf’s nutritional plan from now until weaning. Will the cattle be ready when weaning day arrives?

The influence of mineral on your cattle’s performance – and the potential impact of that performance on your profitability – can’t be overstated.

As a cattle nutritionist, Ted Perry talks to people every day – like cattle owners with real-time problems – and translates the research into real help.