At Severn Edge Farm Vets, our priority is helping farmers get the very best from their cattle through proactive, practical and evidence‑based herd health planning. With that in mind, we recently welcomed a representative from Virbac to meet with our farm vet team and deepen our understanding of how Multimin, their injectable trace‑mineral product, can be strategically used across both beef and dairy herds.
The session was packed with valuable insights—not only into how Multimin supports calf health, but also how it can boost fertility in bulls, improve conception rates in cows, and strengthen immune resilience throughout the herd.
What Is Multimin and Why Does It Matter?
Virbac’s Multimin provides four essential trace elements—selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese—in a highly bioavailable injectable form. Unlike drenches, boluses, or mineral buckets (all of which have a very important and strong place in farm animal health), Multimin ensures these nutrients enter the bloodstream directly and are available for immediate use during key physiological windows.
These minerals contribute to:
- Immune system development and response
- Growth and tissue repair
- Antioxidant protection
- Fertility, sperm development, and reproductive performance
- Vaccine effectiveness
With so many biological processes dependent on trace minerals, giving cattle the right balance at the right time can transform overall herd performance.
Our Multimin Training Session at Severn Edge Farm Vets
Having Lydia, the Virbac representative, join us was a brilliant opportunity to analyse our herd health plans and identify where Multimin could be better integrated. Together, we discussed:
- Practical timings for supplementation across different production systems
- Results seen in UK and international herds
- How Multimin complements existing mineral strategies
- The roles of trace minerals in fertility, immunity, and disease prevention
- Where injectable supplementation outperforms oral routes
The focus quickly widened beyond youngstock, as there is strong and growing evidence for strategic use in breeding cows, heifers, and bulls, particularly around the breeding season.
Supporting Calf Health: Building Stronger, More Resilient Youngstock
Calves remain a truly impactful area where Multimin can make a difference. Pneumonia continues to be one of the biggest health challenges on UK farms, and while vaccine programmes, ventilation, and colostrum management are essential, trace minerals are a crucial but often overlooked part of immunity.
Multimin can support calves by:
1. Strengthening the immune response
Zinc and selenium are vital for white blood cell function, helping calves respond more effectively to respiratory pathogens.
2. Enhancing the response to pneumonia vaccines
Strategic supplementation has been shown to improve vaccine efficacy, giving calves a stronger defence at a vulnerable time.
3. Reducing the impact of stressors
Weaning, disbudding, transport, and cold, damp weather all weaken immunity. Using Multimin before these events helps calves withstand these challenges.
4. Improving growth rates and recovery
Calves that avoid disease or recover faster perform better long‑term – a major economic win for both beef and dairy farms.
Wider Herd Benefits: Fertility Improvements in Bulls and Cows
One of the most exciting aspects discussed in our Multimin session was the wider herd benefits—particularly fertility.
For Bulls: Improved Semen Quality and Sperm Motility
Trace minerals are critical for semen production, sperm integrity, and testicular health. Multimin has been shown to:
- Increase sperm motility
- Improve sperm morphology
- Enhance overall breeding soundness
This makes it particularly valuable 4–6 weeks before puberty in young bulls, or pre‑breeding in mature stock. With bull fertility determining the success of an entire breeding season, supporting them nutritionally is essential.
For Cows: Enhanced Conception Rates and Uterine Health
Breeding cows also benefit significantly from targeted trace mineral supplementation. In cows, Multimin can help:
- Improve conception rates
- Support healthier ovulation cycles
- Reduce early embryonic loss
- Strengthen uterine immunity around calving
- Improve post‑calving recovery
This is especially important for high‑yielding dairy cows, suckler cows coming off winter rations, and heifers entering the herd for the first time.
Administering Multimin 4 weeks before bulling is a strategic way to support reproductive success across the board.
Strategic Use Across the Production Cycle
Following the session, our vet team identified several key timings where Multimin could have the biggest impact:
- At calving for both cow and calf
- 4 weeks before breeding for cows and heifers
- 4–6 weeks pre‑breeding for bulls
- Before major stressors (weaning, disbudding, transport)
- Alongside vaccination programmes
- During periods of known mineral antagonism (e.g., high molybdenum forage)
- For intensively reared beef calves or high‑risk youngstock
Every farm is different, and our vets will always tailor recommendations to your system, mineral status, and herd goals.
Why We’re Keen to Use Multimin More Across Our Farms
The key message from our workshop was clear: strategic mineral supplementation pays off across the entire herd. Whether you’re focusing on youngstock health, breeding performance, or overall productivity, Multimin is a powerful tool that works alongside your existing nutrition plan.
Our team came away feeling confident, informed, and excited about implementing Multimin more widely to support healthier, more productive cattle.
Interested in How Multimin Could Fit Into Your Herd Health Plan?
We are always happy to help you assess your mineral strategy and work out whether Multimin could improve immunity, fertility, growth, or productivity across your herd. If you would like to learn more please pop into practice or give us a call on 01746 713911.
