Peter Norwood: Hair Mineral Analysis and Nutritional Balancing: An Opportunity to Enhance Livestock Performance

Hair analysis is a non-invasive soft tissue mineral biopsy used to detect mineral levels. It provides a reading of the mineral deposition in the cells and interstitial spaces of the hair over a 2-3 month period. This Australian consultant utilizes this test and a modern understanding of minerals’ role in animal performance to improve individual and herd health and productivity. Hair testing can provide an assessment of an individual animal’s stage of stress and oxidation rate. The oxidation rate provides a tremendous quantity of information very quickly. Hair testing can also provide indicators of endocrine activity, liver and kidney function, and carbohydrate tolerance and protein utilization. Rebalancing nutritionally allows stabilization of the metabolic rate and allows the digestive system, liver and kidneys to function to allow the excretion of toxic heavy metals and produces improvement in animal health and feed conversion.

(1 hour, 21 minutes, 33 seconds) Recorded at the 2016 Acres U.S.A. Conference, Omaha, Nebraska, Friday, December 2, 2016.