ISSUE FOCUS 48 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2026 values, values that may lead to compounding overestimation. THE TROUW NUTRITION PRECISION MODEL: A PRACTICAL TOOL FOR FORMULATORS To address the complexity of balancing mineral requirements across variable diets and animal categories, Trouw Nutrition developed a comprehensive precision mineral supplementation model. The model integrates: • Basal diet mineral contributions • Expected variations in milk yield and DMI • Antagonist presence (e.g., iron, sulfur) • Mineral interactions • Requirements across lactating cows, dry cows, and growing heifers • Maximum tolerance limits The output is a set of science based, category specific supplementation guidelines for copper, zinc, and manganese that reduce both under and oversupply. Why This Matters for Formulators? Such a model helps standardize practices across nutrition teams, reducing the reliance on “safety margin” blending and promoting more stable reproductive performance, lower toxicity risk, reduced environmental trace mineral excretion as well as increased formulation efficiency and consistency. RETHINKING MINERAL SOURCES: SOURCE MATTERS An important complement to precision mineral levels is mineral form. Higher reactive sulfate sources can generate free radicals, damage vitamins, or reduce fiber digestibility. More stable, less reactive sources, such as hydroxy trace minerals, can offer: • Improved bioavailability • Reduced reactivity in the TMR • Lower inclusion levels without compromising cow performance • Decreased excretion due to better absorption When the nutritional goal is to meet requirements rather than overshoot them, source quality becomes a key factor in achieving predictable results. A CALL TO ACTION FOR FEED FORMULATORS To move the industry toward more sustainable, precise mineral feeding, formulation teams should consider the following next steps: 1. Audit current trace mineral inclusion levels Compare premix and TMR mineral concentrations with modern requirement guidelines and updated forage test results. 2. Reduce or eliminate outdated safety margins Replace blanket overfortification with data driven adjustments based on analytical results and model recommendations. 3. Encourage targeted forage mineral testing Even limited seasonal sampling can improve formulation accuracy significantly. 4. Evaluate mineral source bioavailability Shifting to more stable and predictable mineral forms may allow lower dosage without risk. 5. Communicate with producers Explain the value of precision: better fertility, improved sustainability, lower feed costs, and reduced risk of toxicity. CONCLUSION: TOWARD SMARTER, SUSTAINABLE MINERAL NUTRITION The dairy industry is undergoing a transformation, one in which precision, data, and sustainability are shaping the future of ration formulation. The long standing culture of “adding a little extra, just in case” is no longer aligned with modern scientific insights or economic realities. By embracing precision nutrition models, accurately accounting for basal diet mineral contributions, and selecting higher quality mineral sources, feed formulators can safeguard animal health, enhance farm performance, reduce waste, and contribute meaningfully to the sustainability goals of the dairy value chain.
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