Ruminants

DSM Vitamin Supplementation Guidelines 2022 for Animal Nutrition

Ruminants

Category/Phase

Vit. A⁽⁴⁾

Vit. D₃⁽⁴⁾

250HD₃⁽⁴⁾ (Hy•D®)

Vit. E

Vit. K₃

Vit. B₁

Vit. B₂

Vit. B₆

Vit. B₁₂

Niacin

Biotin

d-Pantothenic acid

Folic acid

Vit. C

Choline

ß-carotene

I.U.

Calves
Milk replacer (0-3 months)

20,000 – 32,000

2,000 – 4,000

150 – 200

1.0 – 1.5

2.5 – 5.0

2.5 – 4.5

0.04 – 0.08

9.0 – 18.0

0.05 – 0.1

7.0 – 9.0

0.2 – 0.3

250 – 500

500 – 750

100⁽¹⁴⁾

Starter dry feed

7,500 – 10,000

2,200 – 3,000

135 – 200

Heifers (dairy replacement)
Growing

20,000 – 60,000

6,000 – 16,350

300 – 500

10 –20⁽¹²⁾

300 – 500⁽¹⁵⁾

6-4 weeks precalving

80,000 – 100,000

20,000 – 25,000

3⁽⁵⁾

2,000 – 3,000

6,000 – 12,000

20⁽¹²⁾

500 – 1,000⁽¹⁶⁾

Beef cattle
Growing

25,000 – 50,000

6,000 – 9,000

200 – 300

60 – 250⁽⁹⁾

10 –20⁽¹²⁾

Fattening & finishing

40,000 – 80,000

5,000 – 7,000

500-2,000⁽⁶⁾

60-250⁽⁹⁾

10 –20⁽¹²⁾

Beef cows

40,000 – 70,000

5,000 – 10,000

350 – 500

20⁽¹²⁾

300 – 500⁽¹⁵⁾

Dairy cows
Dry cows, far-off⁽²⁾

80,000 –120,000

25,000 – 30,000

1,100 – 4,000⁽⁷⁾

6,000 – 12,000⁽¹¹⁾

20 – 40⁽¹³⁾

500 – 1,000⁽¹⁷⁾

Dry cows, close-up⁽³⁾

80,000 – 120,000

25,000 – 30,000

3⁽⁵⁾

2,000 – 4,000⁽⁷⁾

20 – 40⁽¹³⁾

500 – 1,000⁽¹⁶⁾

Lactation

100,000 – 150,000

25,000 – 40,000

600 – 1,000⁽⁸⁾

6,000 – 12,000⁽¹¹⁾

20 – 40⁽¹³⁾

300 – 500⁽¹⁸⁾

Breeding bulls

50,000 – 80,000

5,000 – 10,000

300 – 500

20⁽¹²⁾

Sheep & Goats

10,000 – 15,000

400 – 600

300 – 600

200⁽¹⁰⁾

5⁽¹²⁾

30 – 50

⁽¹⁾ Supplementary amount/head/day
⁽²⁾ From dry-off to 3 weeks before calving
⁽³⁾From 3 weeks before calving to calving
⁽⁴⁾Local limits need to be observed
⁽⁵⁾3 weeks before calving
⁽⁶⁾ Upper level for improved color case-life, 100 to 120 days pre-slaughter
⁽⁷⁾ Upper level from 3 weeks pre-partum until 4 weeks post-partum
⁽⁸⁾ Upper level for optimum udder health
⁽⁹⁾ Upper level for cattle on high concentrate rations
⁽¹⁰⁾ In high concentrate diets
⁽¹¹⁾ From 2 weeks before parturition until peak lactation
⁽¹²⁾ For optimum hoof health and optimum meat marbling
⁽¹³⁾ For optimum hoof health and milk yield
⁽¹⁴⁾ For 2 weeks after colostral period
⁽¹⁵⁾ 6-8 weeks before 1st insemination/mating when intake of green forage is low
⁽¹⁶⁾ Lower level 8 weeks before 1st calving, upper level 4 weeks before 1st calving when intake of green forage is low
⁽¹⁷⁾ Lower level during entire dry period (Far-off and Close-Up); upper level 3-4 weeks before calving (close-up only)
⁽¹⁸⁾ Dry and fresh beginning during the dry period until pregnancy is confirmed

Conversion Factors

Vitamin (active substance)	Unit	Conversion factor active substance form to vitamin form
Vitamin A (retinol)	IU	1 IU Vitamin A = 0.344 μg Vitamin A acetate (retinyl acetate)
Vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol)	IU	1 IU Vitamin D₃ = 0.025 μg Vitamin D₃
250HD₃ (25 hydroxy- cholecalciferol)	mg	1 μg 250HD₃ = 40 IU Vitamin D₃
Vitamin E (tocopherol)	mg	1 mg Vitamin E = 1 IU Vitamin E = 1 mg all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate
Vitamin K₃ (menadione)	mg	1 mg of Vitamin K₃ = 2 mg of Menadione Sodium Bisulfite (MSB) 1 mg of Vitamin K₃ = 2.3 mg of Menadione Nicotinamide Bisulfite (MNB)
Vitamin B₁ (thiamine)	mg	1 mg of Vitamin B₁ = 1.088 mg of Thiamine mononitrate
Vitamin B₂ (riboflavin)	mg
Vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine)	mg	1 mg Vitamin B₆ = 1.215 mg Pyridoxine hydrochloride
Vitamin B₁₂ (cyanocobalamin)	mg
Vitamin B₃ (Niacin; nicotinic acid and nicotinamide)	mg	1 mg Nicotinic acid = 1 mg Niacin 1 mg Nicotinamide (or Niacinamide) = 1 mg Niacin
Vitamin B₅ (d-Pantothenic acid)	mg	1 mg d-Pantothenic acid = 1.087 mg Calcium d-pantothenate or 2.174 mg Calcium dl-pantothenate
Vitamin B₉ (Folic acid)	mg
Vitamin B₇ (d-Biotin)	mg	1 mg of Biotin = 1 mg D-Biotin
Vitamin C	mg	1 mg Vitamin C = 1 mg L-Ascorbic acid
β-carotene	mg

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Are Ruminants receiving the right level of vitamins?

Our Optimum Vitamin Nutrition (OVN™) concept is about feeding animals with high quality vitamins in the right amount, appropriate to their life stage and growing conditions. This ensures the optimization of animal health and welfare, performance quality and nutritional value of animal-origin food. Key milestones towards sustainable Ruminant farming. We are intensely engaged in research and development, and we focus on partnering with all important stakeholders - leading scientists, universities, genetics companies, independent research institutes, customers. This enables us to develop and produce a complete line of high-quality vitamins and support the feed industry with the new DSM Vitamin Supplementation Guidelines!