Monitor iodine supplementation

Dairy farmers have been advised to monitor iodine supplementation of feeds after Teagasc trials showed that iodine in feeds, plus teat disinfection iodine, can increase the levels in milk above target values.

At the recent teagasc Moorepark milk-quality conference, researcher Bernadette O’Brien said iodine tends to be supplemented at farm level in the expectation of increasing cow health and fertility.

Teagasc carried out trials due to concerns such practices may result in high milk iodine, which could affect ingredients for the manufacture of infant formula and important Irish export product.