Enhancing Mineral Supplementation Decision-Making for Cow-Calf Producers

Commodities

Practices

The project “Enhancing Mineral Supplementation Decision Making for Cow-Calf Producers” aims to address the need for improved mineral supplementation practices in cow-calf production, as highlighted by a recent survey showing high demand for research and education in this area among Nebraska cow-calf producers. Mineral supplementation is important due to the insufficient concentrations of essential micronutrients in forages, crucial for optimizing lactation, reproduction, immune response, and growth in cow-calf systems. However, mineral supplementation needs are complex, with variations in forage and water mineral content, as well as interactions between minerals impacting bioavailability. This complexity often leads to uncertainty and suboptimal supplementation, risking both economic losses and herd health. To tackle this challenge, this project aims to develop a user-friendly tool to assist producers and advisors (veterinarians, nutritionists, and extension educators) in selecting optimal free-choice mineral mixes tailored to their specific needs. This tool will utilize existing literature and understanding of mineral interactions to provide personalized recommendations based on forage and water mineral content, as well as cattle stage of production. By refining the tool through stakeholder feedback and providing targeted educational programming, the project aims to enhance knowledge, awareness, and skills among stakeholders, ultimately leading to the adoption of tailored mineral supplementation programs and cost-effective practices. Evaluation will involve pre- and post-project surveys, tracking tool usage metrics, and economic impacts to gauge the project's effectiveness in improving mineral supplementation decision-making and outcomes for cow-calf producers.

Learning outcomes:

1. Increased knowledge among cow-calf producers and advisors (veterinarians, nutritionists, and extension educators) regarding the importance of mineral supplementation in optimizing herd
   performance and economic sustainability.
2. Improved awareness of the factors influencing mineral availability and interactions in cattle diets, leading to better-informed decision-making.
3. Enhanced skills in utilizing the mineral calculator tool to assess mineral supplementation needs based on forage and water mineral content and cattle stage of production.

Action outcomes:

1. Adoption of tailored mineral supplementation programs by cow-calf producers, resulting in optimized herd health, reproduction, and growth performance.
2. Implementation of cost-effective mineral supplementation practices, leading to improved economic returns for producers.

Measuring outcomes:

1. Pre- and post-project surveys will be conducted to assess changes in knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards mineral supplementation among cow-calf producers and advisors.
2. Participants in outreach activities will be invited to opt in for future communications. Those who agree will receive a follow-up call 6 to 8 months after initial contact to monitor adoption rates of a tailored mineral supplementation program.
3. Follow-up calls will also facilitate the assessment of changes in mineral supplementation expenditures and herd performance metrics to quantify economic impacts.
4. Access to the tool and resource materials posted on the dedicated mineral supplementation webpage will be tracked.