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Faster Horses....a mineral question,yep another one

DejaVu

Well-known member
I have used Vita Ferm Cow/calf 5 for years. Due to a conflict, I won't be purchasing mineral from the back stabbing,creep that sells it in my area. In doing a search, I found that my veterinarian is a distributor for Vigortone.
Would you please tell me how Vigortone compares to/with VitaFerm? And I am sorry for adding to the "mineral-beating a dead horse-topic". But, I'm pretty conscientious on mineral. So, tell me CC5 is junk :) :p
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Ok, it's junk. :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm not familar with Vita-Ferm. Sorry.
I know some people who have used it, that have not stuck
with it, is about all. It isn't used much around here; if at all.
Let me look into it a bit for you.
And with any of my recommendations on Vigortone on here,
I have nothing finacnial to gain by it. I just want to help.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
What I pulled up doesn't look too bad at first glance. I looked at
a formula that was about 2-1 Cal to phos.
The vita-ferm part is a yeast culture, if I'm not mistaken, and is
missed in many minerals, and it is important. The Vita Ferm lists
200 ppm Vit. E and I like that. What I looked at could have more
copper, IMO...

I think the cost is more...
What formula are you, or were you :wink: feeding?
That would help me help you.

I'm sending you a PM, so watch for it, okay?
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
Vita Ferm typically makes good products. I used their mineral for a while several years ago but then the dealer quit handling it. The "Amaferm" additive that they put in it is a great ingredient. It's listed as the aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract.....not really a yeast form but simply an extract grown, extracted and sprayed on a carrier. Unlike yeast products it is not activated until inside the cattle thus has an indefinite shelf life and works like Bovatec and Rumensin by increasing the utilization of the feed. Cattle need 3 gr. per head per day. Only question is "do they put enough in there to get that much into each cow each day". If you wanted that benefit I'd probably buy the Vigortone mineral and add the Amaferm to it. :wink:
 

DejaVu

Well-known member
Cow/Calf 5:
Calcium 5.5% min 6.5% max
P 5.0% min
Salt 18.5% min 22.0% max
Magnesium 2.0% min
Potassium 2.0% min
Cobalt 40ppm min
Copper 1,000ppm min
Iodine 120ppm min
Manganese 3,000ppm min
Selenium 27ppm min
Zinc 3,700ppm min
Vit A 400,000 IU/Lb min
Vit D-3 40,000 IU/Lb min
Vit E 200 IU/Lb min
Vit B-12 18.0mcg/Lb or 0.018mg/Lb min
Riboflavin 7.0mg/Lb min
d-Pantothenic Acid 12.0mg/lb min
Thiamine 1.5 mg/Lb min
Niacin 64.0 mg/Lb min
Choline 740.0 mg/Lb min

Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, monocalcium phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Potassium Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Yeast Culture.

4ounces per adult beef animal, daily.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
That'a about a 1-1 cal to phos ratio and is no longer recommended by nutritionist. They prefer 2-1, 3-1, or even 6-1. Do you know that some feedlots feed NO phosphorus? The NRC keeps DROPPING the phos requirement for cattle. This contains 5% phos.

I'm not familiar with Kansas, but 1000 ppm copper is NOT ENOUGH
for Montana. Outside of the formula being an older formula and not
having enough copper, this seems to be a decent product; like TexasBred said.

One thing about Vigortone that is important is particle size. A lot
of research has gone into the particle size and as a result, cattle
can better utilize the mineral in their systems and being better
able to digest it is why they perform so well on it.


If you are having problems with your dealer (and it
sure sounds like you are) I would highly receommend that you go get some Vigortone from your vet. You'll be happy with the results and your
cows will be happy with you.

Hope this helps. Good luck!!
 

DejaVu

Well-known member
Thanks FH. I've noticed a slight red cast over the backs of some of my black cows. It's not real bad but it does indicate a copper deficiency. Sure appreciate your help. Will give my vet a call and see if he really is a dealer. Seems like he sells a little of everything :lol:
 

Larrry

Well-known member
I firmly believe that one of the most overlooked ingredient in minerals is the copper and zinc. The days when people just looked at Calcium and Phos are over...the whole package is where it's at.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Yep, Larry, Copper and zinc is one of the main reasons to feed mineral.
And the copper/zinc ratio MUST be right or you are better off not
feeding mineral.
Here in Montana a lot of studies have been done and copper and zinc are known to be lacking in our soils/grass. Yeast culture is important too, as is Vitamin E.
 

cowman52

Well-known member
used vigrotone for years, State rep worked for me back in the dark ages, if we EVER had a problem he was there taking grass and soil samples and got us on the track to fixing what was wrong. yes might be a bit higher in cost but in our using them in probably 40 different A I customers operations, ever time they switched to something else, conception went down, I use it and will keep doing so and recomend it to all my customers
 

MoGal

Well-known member
FH or anyone else: Do you know why we don't use Vitamin C in cow mineral.... (after reading the entire article from the link I posted under Texan's microplasma post, they use Vitamin C injectable in Australia for some illnesses and I'm wondering why its not even included in minerals here.)

We know the benefits for people, couldn't cattle utilize vit C as well?

Thanks
 

TexasBred

Well-known member
A dietary need of ascorbic acid or vitamin C is limited to man, the guinea pig, and the monkey. Other animals are able to synthesize vitamin C within their bodies.
 
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