How To Help Your Cattle Handle Mud Stress | Kemin USA

During wet seasons, cattle lots can quickly become muddy, causing an increase in energy needs which can negatively impact performance and growth. The research is clear when it comes to the negative effects of muddy conditions.

The Bottom Line: Energy expenditure to compensate for the impact of mud decreases enrgy available for productive purposes, such as daily gain, immune system efficiency, reproductive function and/or protein accretion.

Increased Mud = Increased Energy Expenditure and Increased Input Costs

Mud (or cold) stress abatement tip: The general rule of thumb is to increase winter ration energy by 1% for each degree Fahrenheit below the LCT.

The Benefits of Chromium on Beef Cattle Health and Immunity

Supplementing chromium can help mitigate the effects of mud and weather stress on your cattle. Chromium decreases cortisol — a stress hormone — during stressful periods,⁶ reducing glucose consumption by immune cells, so the immune response doesn't shift energy away from production.⁷

Data dive:

Chromium Impact on Performance and Morbidity

Feedlot cattle that are faced with immune challenges, such as mud stress, demand an increase in energy efficiency to prevent sickness. This energy is therefore redirected from other production factors such as daily gain. During these challenges, glucose metabolism increases, which increases chromium utilization and ultimately leads to a chromium deficiency. Research conducted at Texas Tech University suggests that supplementing the diet with chromium propionate enhances the immune response of steers to an immune challenge.⁸

The results?

Research shows cattle fed 300 ppb of chromium had an 11% increase in average daily gain (ADG) and a 71% decrease in the need to be treated at least once.

Product Specifications

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References

¹Bond, T. E., W. N. Garrett, R. L. Givens and S. R. Morrisson. (1970). Comparative effects of mud, wind and rain on beef cattle performance. (meeting paper). American Society of Agricultural Engineers Annual Meeting.
²National Research Council. (1981). Effect of Environment on Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals. Washington, DC:National Academies Press.
³Shirley, R. L. and G. E. Smith. (1971). Nitrogen and Energy Nutrition of Ruminants. London:Academic Press. 112.
⁴Beef Feeder. (1991). A sure cure to sure footing. University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture.
⁵T. Marston, et al. (1988). Beef Cow Nutrition Guide. Kansas State University.
⁶Mowat, D. N. (1996). Supplemental organic chromium for beef and dairy cattle. Proceedings of Asia-Pacific Lecture Tour. 31.
⁷Stoakes, S. K., et al. (2015). Estimating glucose requirements of an activated immune system in Holstein steers. Journal of Animal Science. 93:s3/Journal of Dairy Science. 98:s2.
⁸Bernhard, B. C., et al. (2012). Chromium supplementation alters the performance and health of feedlot cattle during the receiving period and enhances their metabolic response to and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Journal of Animal Science. 90:3879-3888.

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