After farmers add a new feed supplement they often ask themselves: when can I expect a difference? which is also a very difficult question to get a straight answer for with just a number. Well, you could argue it does depend on the supplement’s target, the specific deficiency it’s addressing and how often it’s being used; it’s a fair question and an honest answer. One of the most frequent excuses farmers give for giving up on a supplement that really does work is that they expect it to work for a shorter period of time than it does.
The timescales outlined here are realistic timescales for various categories of supplements, so you can make informed comparisons of your supplement’s results and not base your judgment on an arbitrary endpoint.
The differences in the timing of supplements can be quite large among different types.
Different supplemental products have different mechanisms of action, which in turn will have a direct impact on the speed of their effect. Certain supplements target immediate, short-term deficiencies and may yield more rapid improvements, whereas others address more long-term deficiencies, and take a while to have a beneficial impact on a system that is already stressed and needs to be rebuilt or readjusted over time. The ability to determine if a supplement is a pre-workout, post-workout, or protein shake will help establish the right expectations at the start.
Mineral supplements: Usually 2-6 Weeks
Very basic supplementation of minerals, especially the macrominerals, such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, can yield measurable results in a relatively short time frame, particularly if dealing with an acute deficiency. Reports of improved coat condition, hoof health, and overall vitality begin to appear within 2-4 weeks of regular supplementation.
The effects on more complicated outcomes such as fertility or milk production tend to be more gradual, but may not be apparent until after 6 weeks or more, depending on the amount of physiological systems involved.
Vitamin Supplements: Usually 3 to 8 weeks
Vitamin supplementation can have a lot to do with which vitamin is being addressed and the vitamin deficiency symptoms that are observed. For example, plasma vitamin A and/or vitamin E deficiencies with a demonstrated effect on immunity or reproductive performance may take 4 to 8 weeks or more of regular supplementation before an improvement in resistance or reproductive performance is seen.
Probiotics and Gut Health Supplements: Usually 2-4 weeks.
Probiotic and gut health supplements tend to have relatively quicker effects than some other types of supplements because they directly impact digestive efficiency, impacting nutrient absorption just about immediately after a more balanced gut ecology is achieved. Better feed conversion and digestive upset have been noticed within 2-4 weeks of regular use, especially after changing feeds or when experiencing digestive stress.
Herbal and Phytogenic Supplements: 4-8 weeks
Generally, herbal supplements will have a more subtle effect, and take longer to work because they stimulate the animal’s own system rather than give specific, direct effects. For example, an immune support supplement that increases your animal’s natural defenses won’t have an immediate, direct effect as a synthetic immune support supplement would have. The range of herbal veterinary feed supplements developed by VarahVet is formulated and marketed for realistic, sustainable performance enhancement, rather than for miraculous overnight transformation, and most of the supplements demonstrate clear results, measurable improvements in performance, in 4 – 8 weeks of consistent use.
Reproductive and Fertility Support: 1 Full Breeding Cycle usually will be required.
Fertility related supplementation of trace minerals such as selenium and zinc, as well as supplemental nutrition, typically takes one or more breeding/reproductive cycles to provide a meaningful evaluation. This is because reproductive outcomes are affected by nutrition over a longer period of time prior to conception, and are some of the longer timelines to assess, often over the course of 2-3 months or longer.
During the transition period and metabolic support, days to a few weeks.
Transition period supplements for dairy cattle are intended to prevent metabolic disorders such as milk fever around calving and can give relatively quick results as this is a time-sensitive metabolic demand. Within one or more production cycles, there are often signs of improved calving ease, and fewer metabolic problems, after proper supplementation around the calving window.
Why Consistence is more important than the supplement itself.
Whatever class of supplement you are using, one of the most frequently overlooked factors that farmers are not seeing the desired results within a reasonable period of time is an inconsistent application method. Taking doses at irregular times, mixing it in at varying times in feed, or terminating and re-starting supplementation can stop many supplements from functioning properly, as they need to make certain, gradual changes in the body. Having a set schedule and following it during the realistic evaluation period of that particular supplement category provides a more realistic answer to whether the supplement is truly working for your herd or flock or not.
How to Track Results Properly
Instead of relying on general impressions, it’s better to have details and measurable metrics that help paint a more clear, objective picture of the effectiveness of supplements:
- Baseline measurement: Take relevant parameters, such as milk yield, growth rate, feed conversion ratio or reproductive performance before beginning a new supplement.
- Regular intervals of measurement: Collect measurements of the same variables at regular time periods during the time the supplement has been tried in a realistic situation, not just at the end.
- Control other variables: It is important to keep other variables constant, trying to change more than one factor at a time will make it more difficult to identify the cause of the results, for example adding a supplement and changing a feed formulation at the same time.
- Make comparisons with expected timeline: Judge results based on realistic timelines for that supplement type, and not hoping for all things to change all at once.
When to Reassess a Supplement Choice
After using a supplement that has been well outside of its realistic evaluation period (usually two to three times the lower end of the normal time frame) without any measurable improvement, it’s a good idea to re-evaluate. This could be due to the specific deficiency being the actual limiting factor, or the formulation and concentration of the product are inappropriate, or another factor, such as poor water quality or inadequate housing, may be affecting the results and supplementation is not helping despite the presence of the deficiency itself. A veterinary or nutritionist consultation, and an evaluation of whether it is a problem with the supplement itself or an underlying factor, can help determine this.
Conclusion
The effects of a feed supplement will vary according to the type of feed and the deficiency that is being corrected, with effects from a few days to two or three months. If you have set up realistic management expectations, used the product consistently and are measuring measurable metrics against the right time frame, you will have a much clearer idea if the supplement you use, whether it’s a mineral mixture or a more complex herbal product like one from VarahVet, is truly adding value to your herd or flock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Well, after 2 weeks on a new supplement, your herd hasn’t improved, so what’s going on?
A: Many types of supplements will require more than two weeks, especially for chronic deficiency or reproductive issues. Be sure to review the realistic timeline for your particular supplement before deciding it doesn’t work.
Q: Do herbal supplements take longer to work than synthetic?
A: Generally, yes. Some herbal and phytogenic supplements tend to be more slowly acting, acting via the animal’s own systems, and take longer to be effective, usually 4-8 weeks, whereas some synthetic compounds may be faster for acute deficiency correction.
Q: If a supplement isn’t working within the recommended time period, should I take a break from it?
A: Not immediately. Try to go a bit further than the standard window, if it’s still not better, look for consistency problems or other factors that may be causing the issue and consult a vet if you haven’t found any improvement.
Q: Will it be quicker to get results if you use more than one supplement?
A: Not always and can make it more difficult to determine what is actually working to bring about any improvement that you may experience. In general, it is better to try to introduce supplements one at a time and measure the effectiveness of each supplement in a realistic time frame.
