Mineral Sources

U. S. NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM COW/CALF PRODUCTIVITY AUDIT 327 OPERATIONS--18 STATES 352 FORAGE SAMPLES 70% OF ADULT BEEF COWS IN U.S.

PERCENTAGE OF FORAGES MEETING MINERAL NEEDS OF CATTLE FOR THE 352 FORAGE SAMPLES MINERAL % ADEQUATE DEFICIENT MARGINAL HIGH COPPER MANGANESE ZINC COBALT SELENIUM IRON MOLYBDENUM

Just give me a good basic… Vehicle 4-door midsize car? Does this meet your needs? Mineral Supplement TM salt? Does this meet your needs?

Underfeeding -Potentially reduced production and repro, and increased health problems Overfeeding -Potential toxicity, antagonism, higher feed costs, environmental issues

Just give me a basic mineral supplement? Work with A Reputable Company! Minimum of 6 to 8% phosphorus in areas where forages are consistently lower that 0.2% phosphorus The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio should not be substantially over 2:1. (Different for feedlot mineral supplements) Supplements at least 50% of the animal’s requirement for cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, and zinc. High relative bioavailability while avoiding mineral sources that are potentially toxic or antagonistic The product must be palatable Have uniform particle size Include selenium, unless toxicity problems observed.

Salt NaCl Common practice to add 0.25%-0.5% to commercial feed formulas Common to provide it ad libitum (free-choice) to ruminants and horses Excess generally not a problem (swine, poultry more susceptible)…..need access to water ! Common to use salt for other minerals/vit. U.S. …iodized salt (3 rd world…check)

SODIUM & CHLORINE Sodium a major cation - Chlorine a major anion both in cellular fluid. Controlling water balance and regulating acid- base balance. REQUIREMENTS- Sodium Nonlactating beef cattle.06%-.08% Lactating beef cows.1% Chorine requirements not clearly defined. SOURCES-SALT OR BICARB Salt really only mineral animals crave

Macro Minerals Ca – When feeding grain P (usually consider ½ available from plants for monogastrics…..ruminants use it very well)

Copper: Breed Differences – NC State Study A. ABSORPTION GREATER IN ANGUS B. SIMMENTAL-CHAROLAIS CANNOT BE MAINTAINED ON SAME COPPER LEVEL AS ANGUS C.Supplementing all the same— MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE

Breed and Cu Requirement ( 8 ppm Cu ppm Fe) Mullis et al., 2003

Copper is complicated! The diet of cattle should contain about 4-10 parts per million (ppm) of copper. Excess molybdenum and/or sulfates interfere with copper utilization. Cattle will usually perform normally when the copper to molybdenum ratio is from 4:1 to 10:1 in the diet and copper to zinc ratios of 1:2 or 1:3 are suggested. Other situations can interfere with copper nutrition and include (1) soil ingestion due to overgrazing, (2) excess cadmium, zinc, iron, and calcium

Methods of supplementation Free-choice loose mineral – Base mix commonly contains 20-25% salt – Can vary salt level to alter intake Trace mineral blocks – Concern if borderline on minerals Energy-Protein supplements

The challenges of free-choice mineral supplementation: Variation of Intake Intake of a complete free-choice mineral supplement should be about 2 oz per head per day. (But can be 0 to > 5 oz) When feeding dry hay, mineral intakes typically drop to 0.5 to 0.6 oz per head per day. When feeding silage, mineral intakes drop to 0.9 to 1.0 oz per head per day With hard water (total dissolved solids > 2000ppm), mineral intakes drop to 0.3 to 0.4 oz per head per day

ORGANIC MINERAL SOURCES Chelated Minerals IMPROVED BIOAVAILABILITY 1. SEVERE MINERAL DEFICIENCIES 2. HEALTH PROBLEMS 3. REPRODUCTION PROBLEMS 4. STRESS SITUATION

Zinc-Met may reduce Somatic Cell Count Kellogg, 1990

Supplemental Minerals Cost vs. Availability Availability (general): Organic > Sulfate = Chloride > Oxide = carbonate Cost (general): Oxide < carbonate < sulfate < chloride < organic

Vitamin Sources As a rule: destroyed by heat, sunlight, oxidizing, storage time, molds If not sure – supplement

Vitamin A Green plants, liver meal Most commercial Vit A…..synthetic, cheap $

Vit D High quality forage Fish liver oils or meals, irradiated yeasts …………Vit E in germ or germ oils of plants Vit K synthetic forms

Ionophores Examples: Monensin and Lasalocid Type II antibotics Originally approved as coccidiostat in poultry Found it shifts VFA profile in ruminants methane & acetate propionate Improved feed efficiency

Monensin (Rumensin) Helps control bloat – Magical formula? – May not taste that good

Probiotics Live bacteria that may be added to diet May help control intestinal infections

Other Feed Additives Beta-Adrenergic Agonists Repartitioning Agents Increase muscle, reduce fat Clenbuterol, ractopamine (PAYLEAN), cimaterol Similar in structure to epinephrine