AN EXCELLENT TOOL FOR ANIMALS TO FIGHT AGAINST DISEASE
The last Beef Forum recently held in Jerez was an interesting meeting point for technicians and farmers around this sector. Especially revealing was a talk on the impact of Vitamin D in the fight against tuberculosis. It was presented by D. Pedro Fernandez Llario, Veterinarian of the company Ingulares and Professor of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Extremadura.
In the talk, it was explained how tuberculosis has followed a route from our extensive livestock to wild fauna over the years 80-90. From then until now, farmers have continued to fight the disease in extensive cattle, while tuberculosis in wild boar and deer has been increasing and increasing. Now, with an overpopulation of tuberculous wild boars we have continuous new infections of our cattle, so the fight against this disease is ending the illusion and the portfolio of farmers. We see what an unequal fight is like, where animals do not stop slaughtering and despite everything we never finish "cleaning" the farms.
Based on studies that related the mortality of tuberculosis with the religion of patients in English hospitals, the influence of the diet of these patients on the ability of their immune system to fight the disease is beginning to be suspected. Vitamin D3 is recognized as the main responsible for the differences in this mortality. Our researcher and speaker observes that the mortality in deer hunting grounds due to tuberculosis is much higher in the spring (despite being a time of maximum weed production). This high mortality is related to the fact that these animals in spring have to annually develop their horns and this requires extraordinary amounts of Calcium and Vitamin to manufacture this bony appendage..
Vitamin D is involved in calcium metabolism, favored its passage from blood to bone. Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets. further, has a fundamental role in the immune system, allowing the lymphocytes in charge of fighting tuberculosis the total elimination of the bacteria, or at least an encapsulation within the organism that manages to prevent it from being transmitted to other animals. Definitely, an immune system well loaded with Vitamin D3 is an excellent tool for the animal to fight against the disease.
Pedro Fernández offers us data from tests carried out in hunting grounds where deer and wild boar are supplemented with high levels of Vitamin D3 through feed, and the results are impressive. After a year of supplementation it is already observed that the lesions of the dead animals have changed and are not open and contagious but are very circumscribed and indicate that these animals do not infect. The second year of supplementation mortality is reduced by 50 %, and the third year another 50 % .
For some time now, the only thing we have done against tuberculosis is to apply the control plans scrupulously. Now a new avenue of hope opens, since we can help cows, deer and wild boar to effectively fight infection. In fact, the Junta de Extremadura, as a result of these investigations and among the measures it has taken with respect to feeding in hunting reserves, has “FORBIDDEN” the use of corn in wild boars and recommends the use of foods enriched in Vitamin D3 and Calcium.
What can we do from our Cooperative? The feed that our farmers use for extensive cattle B-50, B-20 -, B-51, B-52 already carry vitamin D3 in a normal way, specific 2.000 IU per kilo. We are going to raise that number up to 4.000 IU to further guarantee those blood levels of vitamin D3, whose low cost will not affect the price of feed.
But what do we do with the cows that don't eat B-20, B-50 etc? They will be animals that eat straw, hay, in the pasture or any other food that does not contain added Calcium or Vitamin D3. Well, we can use freely available correctors that contain Calcium and vitamin D3. From Los Remedios-Picasat we are working on the design of a product that we will manufacture ourselves or we will tell the farmer how to mix it on his farm so that he can offer it to the animals at free disposal. For the next issue of the Bulletin we will have the results of consumption that must be tested in order to make the correct calculations with adequate levels of vitamin D especially. The ingredients of this concealer will be usual materials of the factory: Calcium Carbonate, Bicalcium phosphate, Salt and normal beef corrector with vitamin D3 and other vitamins and minerals.
We will keep you promptly informed of the results of the tests.
