WINTER BONUS MAGAZINE 2026

www.deheus.co.za | 031 785 1575 | infosa@deheus.com done through supplying sufficient fresh green roughages, and supplementing orally through mineral licks or through mineral premixes in your TMR or dairy concentrate. A strategic protocol of pre-emptive bioavailable vitamin E and selenium injections will go a long way to boosting blood levels of vitamin E 21 days before calving and strengthening that cellular shield before the battle of birth. Conclusion In the face of the foot-and-mouth disease challenge that the ruminant industry at large is battling, the answer does not just lie in high-energy rations. The freshness factor of your green roughages is important for your vitamins A and E, as they start to oxidise when being cut for hay or turned into silage. Regularly checking the quality of your roughages will make sure that you are informed on whether to begin supplementing vitamins. If your cows spend less time in the sun, such as when they are housed in a shed or have limited time to graze (e.g. under TMR conditions), then they may not synthesise enough vitamin D to meet their immune system requirements. The requirements of vitamin D in high-producing cows can sometimes be higher than what they can synthesise naturally due to the fast calcium turnover. It is crucial to ensure that the mineral packs included in your ration are calibrated accordingly. There are also a variety of injectable products on the market that will supply organically bound vitamins, like A and E with selenium, directly into the bloodstream, which is helpful when rumen function decreases when the cow is under stress. These tactical strikes will provide a boost of bioavailable vitamins to the cows, but do not replace a sustained defence strategy. Balanced rations, that include the necessary ratios of micronutrients like vitamins A, D, and E, and good management will help you to build and maintain a herd that is fortified, internally commanded, and shielded cellularly to ensure the biological resilience needed to withstand modern disease pressures. If you require any additional information regarding vitamin inclusion in dairy feeds or have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local technical advisor or one of our dairy product managers to ensure that you are up to speed – www.deheus. co.za/meet-out-team. Winter 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 6