Mineral Supplementation of Cattle on Grass

OSU Extension MINERALS ????

OSU Extension Supplementation Grazing/Forage management can reduce or eliminate supplemental protein or energy However today’s domestic livestock invariably will require some sort of mineral – vitamin supplementation

OSU Extension 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.

OSU Extension 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

OSU Extension 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?

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

OSU Extension IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE MINERALS 1. SKELETAL GROWTH 2. MUSCLE CONTRACTION 3. VITAMIN SYNTHESIS 4. ENZYME ACTIVITY 5. TISSUE SYNTHESIS 6. REPRODUCTION 7. IMMUNE SYSTEM

OSU Extension FACTORS AFFECTING MINERAL REQUIREMENTS OF GRAZING CATTLE 1.ANIMAL FUNCTION--GROWTH, LACTATION, IMMUNE FUNCTION 2. BREED DIFFERENCES 3. LEVEL OF PRODUCTIVITY 4. STAGE OF PRODUCTION 5. STRESS OR DISEASE STATE 6. MINERAL/DIETARY INTERACTIONS 7. MINERAL BIOAVAILABILITY

OSU Extension 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

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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.

OSU Extension Macro minerals – needed in larger amounts (> 1 gram per head per day) Micro/Trace minerals – needed in smaller amounts (< 1 gram per head per day)

OSU Extension 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

OSU Extension Calcium: M ore concern in feedlot diets MAJOR FUNCTIONS- bones & teeth. May be deficient in weathered forages & lush spring forage -Symptoms may look like Grass Tetany Supplement when feeding relatively large amounts of feeds such as grains & distiller’s grain products FORAGE SOURCES- Forage affected by species, portion consumed, maturity, quantity of exchangeable calcium in the soil, and climate. Alfalfa relatively high in calcium but 20-33% unavailable

OSU Extension PHOSPHORUS 80% found in bones, teeth and soft tissue. Required for ruminal microorganisms, growth and cellular metabolism PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY- Reduced growth and feed efficiency, decreased appetite, impared reproduction, reduced milk production, fragile bones PHOSPHORUS SOURCES- Cereal grains, animal and fish products. Inorganic sources.

OSU Extension Magnesium 300 enzymes are known to be affected by Magnesium. DEFICIENCY SIGNS- Excitability, anorexia, hyperemia, convulsions, frothing and profuse salivation and calcification of soft tissue- GRASS TETANY- nervousness, reduced feed intake and muscular twitching around face and ears.

OSU Extension POTASSIUM Third most abundant mineral in the body and the major cation in intracellular fluid. POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY- receiving diets Reduced feed intake, rough hair coat, muscular weakness. POTASSIUM EXCESS- Forages supply excellent sources of potassium and can cause grass tetany. (High potassium reduces absorption of Magnesium)

OSU Extension Example: Hi-Mag Ration 38% Protein Supplement280 lbs Cracked Shelled Corn470 lbs Hi-Mag Mineral250 lbs Hand Feed two pounds daily for adequate mineral intake- Mixture will supply 29 grams of Magnesium If not in an acute situation: 15-20% Magnesium Oxide in free-choice mineral % molasses/grain

OSU Extension Minerals that interfere with Magnesium Absorption Potassium –Concern when >2.2=K%/(Mg% + Ca%) High Nitrogen (e.g. fertilization)

OSU Extension Sulfur Deficiency – more of concern in feedlot diets and using non-protein nitrogen Excess potential perhaps more concern: –Feeding high levels of feeds such as distiller’s grain products –High sulfur in the water

OSU Extension Water & Sulfur Water with 350 ppm Sulfate-S = 0.2% dietary S Water with 700 ppm Sulfate-S = 0.4% dietary S Take water samples occasionally if a concern

OSU Extension Responses - Growth: 0.1 ppm Mastitis 0.3 ppm Immunity: 0.1 to 0.3 ppm Calf health: 0.3 ppm Deficient: White muscle disease, Retained placentas, Infertility

Se and Somatic cell count High plasma Se = lower somatic cell count Weiss et al., 1990

OSU Extension Selenium narrow window deficiency/toxicity Federally regulated: –3mg/day or 0.14 mg/lb of total diet (0.3 ppm) Vitamin E supplementation also needed

OSU Extension Beef feedlot: 0.1 ppm supplemental Beef cows: 0.3 ppm supplemental Dairy: 0.3 ppm supplemental FDA Maximum Legal Limit: 0.3 ppm Supplemental

OSU Extension - Total Copper: 10 to 18 ppm livestock - We will talk about deficiency but… Toxicity risk is also real (3 to 5X) -Base is 10 ppm in Beef cattle but…. Breed differences exist -Interactions with… -Iron, Sulfur, Molybdenum, Zinc, others…. (diet and water)

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

OSU Extension EFFECT OF DIETARY MOLYBDENUM AND IRON ON LIVER COPPER IN GROWING HEIFERS IRON MO. WEEK CONTROL 500 ppm 5 ppm CONTROL BASAL DIET ONLY (Cu=4 ppm)

OSU Extension 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

OSU Extension ENDOPHYTE FUNGUS FESCUE-- COPPER Levels

OSU Extension Journal of Animal Science, 76:2687 (1998)

OSU Extension Iron (Fe) Iron can be included in temperate region mixtures, but often iron and manganese can be eliminated in regions where the soil is acidic. In certain areas where parasitism is a problem, iron supplementation may be beneficial.

OSU Extension Iodine (I) - Requirement: 0.2 (summer) to 0.5 (winter) ppm - Most feeds < 0.1 ppm - Cow diets should be supplemented  EDDI or Ca iodate (stable)  Potassium iodine (not stable)

OSU Extension Responses Growth: 25 ppm Immunity: ppm Balance: 55 ppm Zn = Cu x 4 If Cu = 15, Zn = 60

Zinc-Met may reduce Somatic Cell Count Kellogg, 1990

OSU Extension Although absorption is low a deficiency in grazing cattle is uncommon. Perhaps more important prior to calving. Responses Growth: 20 ppm Reproduction: 40 to 60 ppm Balance: 34 ppm

OSU Extension Cobalt (Co) - Bacteria require Co, cattle require vitamin B-12 - Growth: 0.1 ppm - Better fiber digestion (0.25 ppm) - B-12 status (0.15 to 0.2 ppm) Young more susceptible than mature

OSU Extension Typical TM Concentrations in Forages Co: 0.1 to 0.3 ppm Cu: 6 to 10 ppm I: 0.1 ppm Fe: 60 to 200 ppm Mn: 35 to 60 ppm Zn: 25 to 50 ppm Se: 0.05 to 0.12 ppm

PASTURE /RANGE PLANTS MANY MINERALS DECLINE AS PASTURE PLANTS MATURE

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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

OSU Extension 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

OSU Extension IDENTIFY MINERAL NEEDS OBTAIN BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1.GROWTH, REPRODUCTION, DISEASE, MINERAL DATA COLLECTION 2.FEED, FORAGE, WATER ANALYSIS SPECIFIC PROBLEMS 3.APPROPRIATE TISSUE ANALYSIS

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

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

OSU Extension Mineral Supplements Trace minerals: Price and availability Most cases: sulfates are best compromise