How Michelle Maginness Uses Just Beet It to Prevent Animal Health Issues While Feeding Fodder Beet and Kale

Oxford dairy farmer Michelle Maginness runs a 740-cow System 4 farm, where performance and animal health go hand in hand. With a strong focus on feeding and transitioning cows correctly between crops and pasture, Michelle’s goal has always been to avoid metabolic issues - especially when using fodder beet and kale as feed. “The goal was to minimise animal health issues when cows were fed kale or fodder beet,” says Michelle.

The Challenge: Phosphorus Deficiency

Michelle knew her cows were struggling with a phosphorus deficiency when grazing on fodder beet and kale. Despite feeding traditional supplements like DCP, the cows weren’t consuming enough, and residues were being left uneaten in troughs. The health risks were significant - cows going down, production dropping, and time lost to dealing with sick animals.

The Solution: Just Beet It

In 2021, Michelle introduced Just Beet It, Bell-Booth’s loose-lick mineral supplement specifically designed for beet and kale diets. The difference was immediate. “They liked the taste, and because I put it out in 10-15 small bins, there’s no competition. Every cow gets access.”

By feeding 80-100g of Just Beet It per cow per day, Michelle now hits her cows’ daily needs for phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and sodium, with no waste and no issues. “Since using Just Beet It, we’ve had little to no animal health problems. Blood testing for phosphorus has stopped - we simply don’t need it anymore.”

Just Beet It isn’t just part of the plan - it is the plan. Michelle includes it during key times of the season to prevent issues before they arise. And with less time spent dealing with downer cows, her team can focus on production.

A Strong Start for Heifers with Queen of Calves

Michelle’s investment in animal health doesn’t stop with the milking herd. Raising top-quality heifers starts with a deliberate calf nutrition programme. After years of battling with underperforming calves despite best efforts, she switched to Bell-Booth’s Queen of Calves in 2020. “You see a difference in the first three weeks - healthier, more content calves, fewer problems, and better weight gains.”

Earlier weaning and strong development have now become the norm. Her heifers consistently hit liveweight targets and return from grazing ready to join the herd.

Growth Support with Bell-Booth Crumble

Post-weaning, Michelle uses Bell-Booth Crumble, a palatable, mineral-rich loose lick that supports R1 growth. It’s easy for the grazier to feed out, requiring only a top-up every four days, and the heifers take to it readily. “Even our grazier now recommends Crumble to others. The heifers love it, and it builds their trace element levels through critical development phases.”

• Feed 80-100g/cow/day when cows are on fodder beet or kale
• Use multiple small bins to reduce competition and improve access
• In wet weather, feed daily. In dry conditions, top up every 4th day
• Don’t wait for issues-prevention is easier than dealing with sick cows!

Just Beet It is a highly palatable loose-lick supplement formulated to address the unique mineral needs of cows on fodder beet and kale. It includes 9 key elements:

• Phosphorus
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Zinc
• Iodine
• Selenium
• Copper
• Cobalt