The Beef Podcast Show - #7 - Micronutrients in beef cow nutrition: consequences of confinement and drought in metabolism.

The combination of high costs for pasture and drought conditions in Nebraska have led producers to bring cows into confinement, at least during a certain period of the year. However, that kind of management has some consequences, such as micronutrient deficiencies and disorders – observed as vitamin A clinical and subclinical signs, grass tetany, and nitrate toxicity. In this episode, Dr. Mary Drewnoski explains some of the most recent research conducted on what producers have been observing on their farms. The importance of dam nutrition in late gestation for providing sufficient amounts of vitamin A to calves, recommendations of bunk space and creep feeding area for calves, antagonisms of micronutrients in coproducts and alfalfa hay, and nitrate threshold are some of the topics that are mentioned in this episode – in other words, lots of answers to practical questions.  

What you’ll learn:

1. The invited speaker’s background

2. Vitamin A deficiency

3. Research conducted on vitamin A deficiency

4. Important findings and conclusions of the research

5. Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency in calves

6. How drought affects vitamin A levels – important considerations

7. Diet or injections to correct vitamin A deficiencies?

8. Confinement in Nebraska and consequences for the cows

9. Antagonistic pressure of high sulfur coproducts

10. Nitrate toxicity

11. Vitamin A final conclusions

Meet the guest

Dr. Mary Drewnoski

Experience

     ○ Current: Ruminant Nutritionist and Beef Extension Specialist (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) 

Background

     ○ Postdoctoral Researcher (Iowa State University)

     ○ Ph.D., Animal Science (North Carolina State University)

     ○ M.Sc., Animal Science (North Carolina State University)

     ○ B.S., Ag and Natural Resources (Berea College)

Hobby(ies): Hiking, cycling, and reading!

Favorite book, movie or TV series: 7 habits of highly effective people - growth mindset.

Favorite quote: "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go."  ― Dr. Seuss 

A tip for success: “Strive not to be successful, but rather, to be of value.” Albert Einstein

Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn