The Importance of Mineral Supplementation

The Importance of Mineral Supplementation in Ruminant Health & Productivity

Australia’s vast and varied landscapes pose unique challenges for livestock nutrition. From drought-prone outback pastures to lush coastal highlands, the mineral content of pasture can differ significantly. These minerals are essential to maintaining livestock productivity, fertility, and overall health, making supplementation a key management tool.

In this blog, we explore why mineral supplementation is vital for Australian livestock, spotlighting essential minerals and how to identify deficiencies with Riverina Stockfeeds Senior Nutritionist Dr Reza Tahmasbi. While ruminants have survived on pasture for centuries, today’s demand for productivity and efficiency makes targeted mineral support more important than ever. Whether you’re an experienced grazier or new to livestock, understanding these fundamentals can significantly enhance farm performance.

Dr Tahmasbi says farmers feeding primarily on pasture need to consider several factors such as seasonal changes, environmental conditions, soil and pasture quality and more, which can affect the mineral output of their farm.

“For example, as temperatures drop in autumn and winter, we see pasture quality declines—not just in digestibility and protein, but also in mineral content,” he explains.

Key Minerals and Their Roles

Minerals are an important aspect of ruminant nutrition and play a vital role in health, development, and productivity. Some essential minerals include:

Zinc supports immune function, wound healing, and hoof and coat health. Organic zinc sources enhance immune health, while deficiencies can lead to poor coat condition and an increased risk of infection.
Calcium and Phosphorus are essential for bone growth, energy metabolism, and milk production. Calcium loss during lactation can lead to milk fever, while phosphorus deficiency can reduce fertility.
Sodium plays a key role in stimulating appetite; low intake can result in reduced feed consumption and poor performance.
Magnesium supports nerve and muscle function and helps prevent conditions like grass tetany and milk fever.

Grass mineral levels vary with environmental conditions and seasonal shifts.

The drop in temperature during autumn and winter affects pasture quality and mineral contents.

Know Your Soil

Understanding pasture mineral content starts with the soil.

“A comprehensive soil test provides a clear view of the land’s mineral profile and helps determine whether livestock are receiving adequate nutrition,” Dr Tahmasbi says.

“This allows for informed supplementation, rather than guesswork. Balanced pellets, for example, can provide consistent delivery of essential minerals missing from pasture.

Environmental Impacts on Mineral Availability

Australia’s climate events such as drought, rain, heat, and cold — directly affect pasture quality and mineral availability:

Drought lowers protein levels and digestibility, reducing fertility and performance.
Excess rain can leach minerals like magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus from the soil, leading to deficiencies, skin issues, and increased stress.
High heat causes sodium loss through sweating, reducing feed intake and productivity.
Cold snaps force livestock to expend more energy for warmth while pasture digestibility declines, risking weight loss.

“In all of these conditions, proactive mineral supplementation can help mitigate the effects of these weather events and keep livestock healthy and productive,” Dr Tahmasbi says

Signs of Mineral Deficiency in Livestock

Farmers should watch for common signs of deficiency, such as:

Reduced fertility – linked to copper and phosphorus deficiency.
Poor growth rates – often related to inadequate copper, zinc, or sodium.
Lameness and muscle weakness – can result from low magnesium.
Pica – abnormal craving for non-food items like dirt or wood, often due to cobalt, phosphorus, or sodium deficiency.

Investing in Young Ruminants

Dr Tahmasbi expresses the importance of early supplementation:
“One of the most critical stages for mineral support is in early life. Developing the rumen through targeted supplementation lays the foundation for long-term health and productivity.”

Investing in young stock leads to stronger immunity, better weight gain, and improved fertility as they mature.

Zinc supplementation supports healthy hooves in wet weather conditions.

Supplementation can help mitigate deficiencies such as grass tetany or milk fever.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re raising beef cattle in the outback, dairy herds in Victoria, or sheep in the southeast, mineral supplementation is key to unlocking livestock potential. Backed by soil testing and tailored to your farm’s conditions, the right minerals — at the right time — can dramatically improve animal welfare and productivity.

For further advice on mineral supplementation for your livestock, we encourage you to contact your local Riverina representative or branch.

Contact

Dr Reza Tahmasbi is a certified animal nutritionist at Riverina Stockfeeds, with a PhD in Ruminant Nutrition and nearly 20 years of experience in the field. He is passionate about working with ruminants and helping producers optimise animal health and performance through targeted nutritional strategies.

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