The importance of trace mineral injections

Trace minerals are required for optimal growth, reproduction, and immunity. Optimising trace mineral status relying solely on oral supplements across a herd may fail because of variation in individual intake and reduced absorption due to antagonism of other ration components and minerals.


The use of injectable trace mineral supplements has been associated with positive reproductive outcomes including improved conception rate, increased odds of pregnancy and greater final in calf rate.


A study conducted on 2,168 dairy cows, administered injectable trace minerals, four weeks prior to calving and again four weeks prior to the start of mating showed treated animals had a 3.3 per cent greater final in-calf rate, and a reduced time from start of mating to conception, compared to control animals1.


The Importance of B12

Dr Carl Eden, Technical Services Veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim says “Vitamin B12 is sometimes referred to as a ‘super vitamin’ because it is only required in very small amounts but vital to many essential metabolic pathways.


However, demand for B12 can vary considerably during the year and we see serum levels of B12 fall at critical times, such as the first few months after calving.”


Vitamin B12 contains cobalt, so deficiency in cobalt can lead to deficiency in vitamin B12 because ruminants get most of their B12 as a byproduct of ruminal fermentation where the bacteria in their rumen assemble B12 from cobalt for use by the cow.


Sub-optimal trace mineral and vitamin B12 status at calving, mating, and drying off has been shown to negatively impact growth, reproduction, and immunity.


Using a trace mineral injectable containing vitamin B12 can improve trace mineral and vitamin B12 status at these critical times.

 

Marks-Min with Vitamin B12 – The Evidence

In the largest trace element study to date, Marks-Min Injectable Trace Mineral with Vitamin B12 demonstrated remarkable results when compared to a reference trace mineral injection.


“Given the differences between Marks-Min and other products on the market, we wanted to generate a compelling data set to demonstrate how effective it was compared to the pioneer product. We entrusted this work to a third-party research company” says Dr Eden.


“We chose farms that were at the top of their game from a reproductive perspective. We made sure that the farms had no evidence of trace element or vitamin B12 deficiencies or excess.”


Across all outcomes of interest, Marks-Min demonstrated clear non-inferiority when compared to the reference product. Outcomes measured included submission, pregnancy and conception rates, and six week in-calf rate. Marks-Min demonstrated it is highly suited as an alternative treatment to the reference product.


Reference:

1.      Hawkins, D., and B. V. S. Franklin. New Zealand Dairy Veterinarians Newsletter 24 (2007): 12-16



Company website: livestockfirst.com.au

Company email address: CustomerCare.Australia@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Company video: https://vimeo.com/1138807630?fl=pl&fe=cm





Reference:

1.      Hawkins, D., and B. V. S. Franklin. New Zealand Dairy Veterinarians Newsletter 24 (2007): 12-16



Company website: livestockfirst.com.au

Company email address: CustomerCare.Australia@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Company video: https://vimeo.com/1138807630?fl=pl&fe=cm


NEWS
April 29, 2026
The U10 Pro Range redefines what a top‑tier full‑size UTV can be, launching a bold new era for the UFORCE family — now offered in three distinct models.
April 28, 2026
Family owned company Australian Farm and Fencing, located in Wagga Wagga NSW, is on a mission to help more and more Australian farmers recognise what is widely considered the world's best soil restorative or premium organic fertiliser: vermicast.
April 11, 2026
Invasive woody weeds steal your pasture. Method helps you take it back.
March 23, 2026
Australian farmers choose Bioflora for real results: sustainable roots, soil‑and‑plant biology that works, and a company genuinely committed to supporting growers’ season after season. 
March 22, 2026
Adding hectares isn’t the only business growth strategy for farmers. Smarter landforming can recover margin, improve efficiency, and deliver quicker returns — whether automation is on your agenda or not. 
March 9, 2026
As sheep producers adopt electronic identification, many are focusing on systems that keep work flowing in the yards and deliver value beyond compliance. For producers, the real benefit of EID is simple: faster yard work, more reliable reads, and cleaner flock records — all without adding extra steps. 
Show More