A project at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory led by Travis Mulliniks, Nebraska Extension range cattle nutritionist, found that, with small amounts of supplements, there was an increase in reproductive performance in beef cattle.
Mulliniks said ketosis is a bigger problem for dairy cattle, but beef cows can basically be diabetic when calves are milking as their glucose is dumped into their milk.
Mulliniks said they have been feeding the cows different products to keep their sugar balanced and found nutracol to be a good fit.
Overfeeding a cow propionate will not negatively affect them. Mulliniks said the benefit of glucose supplements in young cows could mean keeping desired genetics in the herd rather than selling them off as open cows.
