August, 2003

Phil McCracken's calves thrive on his farm ration with supplements from Southern States.

Just feeding your cattle is not enough. Mineral deficiencies can cause a variety of growth, developmental and health issues, from nervousness to hair loss to a reduced appetite.

Adding a mineral supplement program produces healthier and bigger animals.

Working with southeastern universities and cooperative research farms, Southern States has reformulated and improved its three mineral lines–Performance, Medicated and Everyday Low Price–to offer producers clearer choices to best suit their needs.

Reformulations include increased amounts of copper, selenium and zinc in all of the Performance and Medicated minerals. These minerals also include 10% magnesium from AniMag®, which is only available through Southern States. AniMag enhances palatability and uniformity.

Additionally, the co-op's Beef Breeder Mineral with Zinpro® 4-Plex contains a source of organic zinc, copper, manganese and cobalt to support health, reproduction and improved weaning weights.

In the Performance Line, Beef Max 2:1 Mineral provides essential minerals needed by grazing cattle.

It has a calcium-to-phosphorous ratio of two to one, the ratio most commonly needed by cattle. That is similar to the ratio in bone. High levels of copper and selenium in Beef Max 2:1 help cattle develop strong immune systems.

Graze-N-Gain Mineral Medicated contains chlortetracycline along with minerals to improve weight gains and overall health in pastured cattle. A four-year University of Kentucky study on the effects of mineral medicated with chlortetracycline showed a 24-pound increase in weaning weights, a 6% increase in rates of gain and a 3.4% increase in conception.

With Ru-Min 1620 Free Choice Cattle Mineral, the average daily gain in cattle improves by up to 15%. Feed requirements are reduced up to 10% for brood cows on hay or pasture. So cows maintain their body condition with 5 to 10% less feed.

Southern States representatives use their training and expertise to recommend the right formula for your needs from one of their three lines. These recommendations are based on an evaluation of the available forage on your farm and of your specific needs.

"We match the feeding program to the customer's needs, creating the most value for the customer," says Bill Duncan, a veteran Southern States field service advisor working out of the co-op's store at Front Royal, Va.

Like other Southern States representatives, Duncan and Allen Taylor, manager of the Front Royal Co-op, are always willing to give customers assistance and advice.

"We've worked with Southern States ever since I came here," says Phil McCracken, cattle farming manager at the Marriott Ranch in Virginia. "Allen, his staff and Bill do whatever it takes to meet our needs."

These needs include a high-mag mineral and Southern States supplement for the 250 heifers in his yearling program, which he selects from his crop of almost 600 calves each year. He feeds a farm-mixed ration of corn silage, hay and corn screenings balanced with a protein supplement containing Bovatec and a complete mineral mix, both made by Southern States.

"We worked with Phil, using our supplements to help him come up with the most practical ration to get the most efficient gain," Duncan says. "Phil analyzes his rations regularly and checks them against results in the feedlot."