Support Herd Health with Riverina Dry Loose Lick Supplements

Understanding Pasture Quality

In most parts of Australia, pasture actively grows for much of the year, providing livestock with a high-quality feed source. However, as grasses mature and begin to seed, their nutritional value begins to decline. Mature forage becomes more fibrous and difficult to digest, making it harder for cattle and sheep to access essential nutrients.

While little can be done to improve the digestibility of mature pasture, the use of dry lick supplements can help. These supplements provide limiting nutrients, which can stimulate appetite and increase the consumption of the remaining pasture. Leading to better animal performance and productivity.

The Role of Rumen Microbes

Ruminant animals like cattle and sheep rely heavily on microbes in the rumen for digestion. Without productive microbes, the supply of nutrients to the animal would cease. This symbiotic relationship allows the animal to break down fibrous feeds that would otherwise be indigestible.

As pastures mature and protein levels drop (often during dry seasons) digestion by the microbes slows down. This often leads to a reduced supply of nutrients from the microbes and reduced feed intake by the animal. Without nutritional intervention, animal health and growth can deteriorate.

Why Dry Lick Supplements Matter

Dry loose lick supplements play a vital role in supporting livestock during periods when pasture quality is poor. They provide key nutrients, including non-protein nitrogen sources like urea, which help maintain the productivity of the microbes. More productive microbes in the rumen, will boost appetite and encourage the livestock to graze the remaining pastures.

Introducing dry lick supplements before pasture conditions worsen is critical. Early supplementation helps sustain animal performance throughout unfavourable seasons for pasture growth.

Signs It’s Time to Supplement

Farmers should look for the following indicators that it’s time to introduce dry lick supplements:

Pasture in late flowering with seed head – As the plant forms the seed head, the leaf content decreases, stalk content increases and digestibility drops.
Dry, firm manure – A sign of protein deficiency and declining rumen function.
Decreased intake of the pasture – Indicates declining rumen activity.

The Role of Urea in Ruminant Nutrition

Urea is commonly used in dry licks as a source of non-protein nitrogen. Once consumed, urea is converted into protein by the rumen microbes. Improving the growth of the microbes and the supply of protein and other essential nutrients to the animal.

Riverina's Solution

Riverina offers a range of dry loose lick supplements formulated to support cattle and sheep grazing mature or low quality pasture. The PASTUREPRO^® range delivers protein, vitamins and minerals helping lift performance and can increase feed intake by up to 30%.

Protein: from protein meals, urea and ammonium sulphate.
Minerals & Vitamins: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, salt, trace minerals and vitamins.

Established Range

The full Dry Loose Lick Supplement range is now available from your local produce/rural stockist! For full list of retailers click here.

PASTUREPRO® Calphos – Protein, vitamin and mineral supplement designed for cattle with low phosphorous and/or calcium intakes.

PASTUREPRO® Breeder – Protein, vitamin and mineral supplement designed to be fed to joining heifers, cows and bulls.

PASTUREPRO® Five + Rumensin – Protein, vitamin and mineral supplement with Rumensin designed to be fed to cattle grazing mature pasture (5% urea).

PASTUREPRO® Ten + Rumensin – Protein, vitamin and mineral supplement with Rumensin designed to be fed to cattle grazing mature pasture (10% urea).

PASTUREPRO® Fifteen + Rumensin – Protein, vitamin and mineral supplement with Rumensin designed to be fed to cattle grazing mature pasture (15% urea).

PASTUREPRO® Sheep – Protein, vitamin and mineral supplement for growing lambs, breeding ewes and rams.

To get the most from your supplement programs, our expert nutritionists have developed a practical ‘How to Supplement’ Guide, to get the most out of your feed.

As pasture quality declines, so does the protein content — negatively impacting the nutritional value for livestock.

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