Animal Health & Trace Elements

Potassic Super = Nutrient Deficencies

New Zealand soils are noted for nutrient deficiencies, due mainly because NZ soils are young and contain low levels of trace elements. These trace element deficiencies have also been the result of an obsession with Potassic super, which has come at the expense of lime and trace element fertiliser. Potassic supers and Urea are responsible for locking up most of our soils meagre supplies of micro-nutrients, resulting in animal health issues such as grass staggers, & infertility.Currently we use animal husbandry to administer remedies to stock that are deficient in nutrients. This trend to treat the animal instead of the soil results in astronomical animal health costs.

Quantity not Quality

Modern fertilisers give us quantity but not quality. Excessive application of phosphate will not improve pasture growth if some other element is missing or is in short supply, in fact it will probably make the problem worse. There is a universal admission that the addition of trace elements to solid fertilisers results in uneven mixing of the additives and this could cause poor spread, possible toxicity and doubtful availability. For this reason trace elements have been overlooked for many years, since perhaps the days of the old bassic slag.

Trace Elements & Chelates

In the past farmers have tried to rectify these trace element deficiencies by applying inorganic chemicals such as sulphates. Now chelated trace elements are available, along with back-up advise on how to solve deficiency problems.Chelation of trace elements such as Magnesium, Copper, Cobalt, Calcium and Zinc is a method of binding a metallic ion within a soluble chemical ring and thus protecting it from being locked-up by the soil.

AGRIFERT agents encourage soil and leaf analysis, we obtain an independent recommendation for chelated trace elements to assist in rectifying a deficiency. Adding these chelated elements to our rage of fertilisers assures a very even, safe and effective sperad.

To enquire about Black Gold Livestock Nutritional Supplement or our Trace Element rich custom blended fertilisers please complete our contact form or call 0800 476 472 NOW!