Mineral Supplementation of the Cow Herd Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler Extension Beef Cattle Specialist University of Kentucky

Is she copper deficient?

Need more than White Salt Research continues to support the need for supplementing forages with a source of minerals. Barnhardt et al., 2007 KS Beef Report

Hypocalcemia (Milk Fever) Normal blood Ca 8.5-10 mg/dL Affect 5% of US Dairy Cows Subclinical (5.5-8 mg/dL) in 50% of older dairy cows Reduces rumen motility Abomasal displacement Reduces muscle contractions Teat Sphincter = Mastitis Impairs immune cell responsiveness Source: J.P. Goff 2008 The Vet Journal

Hypocalcemia (Milk Fever) Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) binds to receptor in presence of Mg cAMP - bone Ca resorption & renal 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D production Alkalosis disrupts binding site High cation intake (K, Na, Ca, Mg) Lowers blood H+, higher pH Hypomagnesemia limits cAMP production Source: J.P. Goff 2008 The Vet Journal

Hypomagnesemia (Grass Tetany) Normal blood Mg 1.8-2.4 mg/dL Clinical 0.9-1.15 mg/dL Blood <0.65 mg/dL Mg increases risk of milk fever Foregut (rumen) is main site of absorption Dependent on rumen fluid [Mg] Solubility of Mg reduced in high rumen pH (>6.5) Trans-aconitic acid forms tricarballylate in rumen complexing Mg lowering absorption Active transport when low [Mg] High [K] reduces absorption Passive transport requires 4x higher rumen [ ] than blood Close-up diet [Mg] 0.35-0.4% Source: J.P. Goff 2008 The Vet Journal

PEM – Brainers & Sulfur Toxicity PEM damage to grey matter Thiamine def, Pb, Water deprivation, & Sulfur Dietary Sulfur Max 0.3% grain-based 0.5% forage-based Water less than 600 mg/L sulfate Sulfur toxicity issues sub-clinical Reduced DMI, ADG, Rumen motility Binds Cu reducing absorption Lowers Se digestibility Inhibits Se incorporation into enzymes Reduces Mn & Cu retention Oxidative stress lowering immune function Source: Drewnoski et al., 2014 JAS

Inhalation of H2S leads to PEM Source: Drewnoski et al., 2014 JAS

Sulfur Sources Water – springs Forages – generally not excessively high Can see accumulation in some forages when sulfate fertilizers used Feeds / Supplements Molasses Corn Coproducts – Corn Gluten & Distillers products Condensed Solubles, Syrup, Fermentation Extracts

Calcium – Cheap and Problematic Higher in Legumes than grasses Short in Ca for corn-based diets = includes Corn coproduct feeds (DDGS, CGF, etc…) Stocker mineral will not work for finishing cattle Need an additional 0.75-1% added limestone

Urinary Calculi Primarily see: Struvite – magnesium ammonium phosphate Struvite, Silica & Magnesium, Phosphorus, Calcium Carbonate uroliths Struvite – magnesium ammonium phosphate Bladder bacteria cleave ammonia from urea – raises urine pH High urine pH leads to formation of mineralized compound (stone) Primarily seen in cattle on high grain rations & Abrupt Water Restriction

Stone Prevention Through Diet Manipulation Dietary Ca:P ratio near 2:1 Corn, Corn Gluten Feed, Distillers Grains, Syrup, etc… High in P, low in Ca Stocker mineral too low in Ca Acidify urine by adding ammonium chloride (common in sheep diet) Not palatable, Will reduce intake if not mixed thoroughly (0.5-1% DM) Add 1-2% salt (DM basis) to encourage urination Ensure ample water access Avoid Excessive Mg & P

Micro Requirements vs. Fescue (ppm or mg/kg) 10 6 Se .1-.3 .06 Zn 30 19 Mn 40 119 Co .1 .2 Fe 50 100 This slide shows some trace minerals. You can see that Copper, Selenium are low and Iron should be ok. This information will be useful as you choose a supplement. *CHAPA, 1996

Mineral Availability from Forage % Ca 50-68 Mg 10-45 P 65-70 Cu 5-15 Se 28-32 Fe 30-70 Mn 3-4 Forage Test = 10 ppm Req’t = 10 ppm Avail, % = 15% Absorbed = 1.5 ppm Deficient = 8.5 ppm Many of the minerals found in forages are not very “available” to the animal, especially copper, selenium and manganese. The mineral supplement will need to supply almost all of these.

Intake free-choice mineral Target intake Patterson et al., 2013 Biol Trace Element Res

Takes Time to Replenish Stores

Reproduction Revisited From: Ferguson and Sklan. Ed. Pfeffer & Hristov, 2006 Authors Conclude: “…dietary P does not seem to have a major impact on reproduction until dietary concentrations are below 0.10%.”

Forage P Levels P, % Min Mean Max Tennessee 0.13 0.36 0.55 West Virginia 0.10 0.34 0.59 Wisconsin 0.08 0.25 0.48 Kentucky 0.11 0.29 0.57 On average, Forage [P] exceed requirement: ~ 0.25% of DM 3-4% Phos Mineral OK & Lower Cost BUT several samples below & require supplementation

Phosphorus Levels in KY Hay ‘09 1,300 lb Cow 20 lb Peak, 23 lb DMI 67% = or Above Req’t

Key Minerals Copper Selenium Zinc Magnesium Calcium Salt Others Important Complete mineral product Monitor Intake

Importance in Fertility Multiple minerals known to be involved in reproduction / fertility Phosphorus, Copper (Cu), Selenium (Se) Deficiency & Excessive Intakes can be problematic Argue that TRACE mineral more frequently deficient in Southeast (Cu, Se, Zn)

Potential Impact on Male Fertility

Proof Minerals Important for Male Fertility? 1951 Thomas & Moss fed Molybdenum and found no spermatogenesis & testes damage 2014 Rowe et al. fed observed ~ 10% improvement for motile sperm numbers w/ ORGANIC trace mineral feeding 2014 Reis et al. fed diets with 540, 1300, 3800 or 6300 ppm of Mn - > 540 ppm reduced sperm integrity

Selenium & Spermatogenesis SEPP1 ApoER2 SEPP1 + Se Boitani & Puglisi, 2009

Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx) Testosterone PHGPx Selenium PHGPx Reduce Oxidative Stress Structural Protein Sperm Midpiece Sperm chromatin condensation Boitani & Puglisi, 2009

Copper & Spermatogenesis Ctr family of copper importers Drosophila (Fruit Fly) model Provides support of Importance of Cu in Spermatogenesis Steiger et al, 2010

Zinc & Human Infertility Often comparison trials Relationship b/w seminal [Zn] & Infertility in men Oxidative stress? Colagar et al., 2009

Zinc Deficiency = Abnormalities Male rats Black = Control Zn Adequate White = Marginal Zn Striped = Deficient Solid Gray = Pair fed Con to Def level Merrells et al., 2009

Se & Cu Key Trace Minerals Needed WHITE SALT YELLOW SALT Watch the Source Copper Sulfate + Copper Chloride ++ Copper Proteinate ++++ NO Copper Oxide Se & Cu Key

Popular Red TM Block – Looking Inside Mineral Source % in Block Sodium Chloride 98.24% Ferrous Carbonate 0.526% Zinc Oxide 0.486% Manganous Oxide 0.334% Reddish Brown Iron Oxide 0.252% Copper Sulfate 0.120% Mineral Oil 0.020% Calcium Iodate 0.011% Cobalt Carbonate 0.0108% Artificial Flavor 0.005% Selenium ??, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium??? 98% SALT

High Mag Season Lactation increases Mg needs Start at least 4 weeks prior to calving VDL grass tetany begins December goes thru May 12-15% Mag level target 4 oz target intake mineral should be at least 10% Mg High Mag to LACTATING cows until Temps above 60 F Usually through May

UK Mineral Comparison Tool   Nutrient Intakes Nutrient Units TM Block Kent 365 UK IRM Calcium, min gm 0.0 17.4 9.4 Calcium, max 20.8 10.2 Phosphorus 8.5 4.3 Salt, min 41.7 15.3 18.7 Salt, max 42.1 18.4 21.3 Magnesium 0.6 1.7 Potassium 0.2 0.4 Iodine mg 3.0 5.7 5.5 Cobalt 2.1 1.4 1.3 Copper 12.8 164.6 136.2 Manganese 85.1 561.8 425.6 Selenium Zinc 149.0 539.1 272.4 Vitamin A IU 95000 46875 Vitamin D 25000 Vitamin E 93.75 46.875 Medication A Medication B Target Intake oz/hd/d 1.5 4 3 Price/cow/d $ 0.01 $ 0.10 $ 0.06 Allows 3 product comparison Accounts for target intake Example of why no red block Illustrates Price/day DOES NOT account for bioavailability

Questions?