Mineral Supplementation for Beef, Goats & Sheep

Macro & Micro Minerals Macro Salt (NaCl) Calcium (Ca) Phosphorous (P) Magnesium (Mg) Potassium (K) Sulfur (S) Macro Salt (NaCl) Calcium (Ca) Phosphorous (P) Magnesium (Mg) Potassium (K) Sulfur (S) Micro Copper (Cu) Selenium (Se) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn) Cobalt (Co) Iron (Fe) Chromium (Cr) Molybdenum (Mo) Iodine (I) Nickel (Ni)

General Functions of Minerals Nutrient Metabolism Reproduction Immune Function Nerve Function Nutrient Metabolism Reproduction Immune Function Nerve Function

Deficiencies Difficult to assess. May be lower weight gains, reduced milk and/or decreased repro without visable signs. Also decreased immune function.

Factors Influencing Mineral Utilization from Forage Dry matter intake Forage mineral content Forage mineral availability Antagonists Dry matter intake Forage mineral content Forage mineral availability Antagonists

Beef Cow Req vs. Fescue (%) ReqFescue Na Ca P* Mg** K S *Varies with production ** High risk grass tetany (22 g/d)

Beef Cow Req vs. Fescue (ppm or mg/kg) ReqFescue* Cu106 Se Zn3019 Mn40119 Co.1.2 Fe50100 *CHAPA, 1996

Availability from Forage % Ca50-68 Mg10-45 P65-70 Cu5-15 Se28-32 Fe30-70 Mn3-4

Relative Bioavailability of Sources

Mineral Antagonists Feed Water Mineral supplement Feed Water Mineral supplement

Mineral Review A look at individual minerals and their importance to cattle

Salt (NaCl)  Electrolyte balance  Need for sodium (they will consume minerals to meet the need for salt)  Electrolyte balance  Need for sodium (they will consume minerals to meet the need for salt)

Calcium (Ca)  Least likely to be deficient in forage  Legumes contain high level  Cheap  Don’t use high levels in supplement for grazing cattle  Least likely to be deficient in forage  Legumes contain high level  Cheap  Don’t use high levels in supplement for grazing cattle

Phosphorous (P)  May be def. esp. w/high production  Forage content decreases w/maturity  Grain is high in P  Expensive  May be def. esp. w/high production  Forage content decreases w/maturity  Grain is high in P  Expensive

Pasture Higher Ca (esp. Clover); Lower P

Ca:P ratio  Dietary ratio 1:1 to 7:1  In supplement –  3:1 to 2:1 grass  2:1 – 1:1 mixed  1:2 clover  Dietary ratio 1:1 to 7:1  In supplement –  3:1 to 2:1 grass  2:1 – 1:1 mixed  1:2 clover

Magnesium (Mg)  Associated with Grass tetany  High K and N reduce absorption  Associated with Grass tetany  High K and N reduce absorption

Potassium (K)  Weaned or newly received calves need short term suppl.

Iron (Fe)  Assoc with RBC (hemoglobin)  Anemia unlikely unless parasite, disease  High levels can interfere with other minerals.  Assoc with RBC (hemoglobin)  Anemia unlikely unless parasite, disease  High levels can interfere with other minerals.

Sulfur (S)  Levels above 0.25% can be antagonistic to Copper

What about the water? Consider mineral levels in water – especially antagonists  Sulfur  Iron Consider mineral levels in water – especially antagonists  Sulfur  Iron

Micro (Trace) Minerals

Copper (Cu)  Supplementation is needed  Affected by Mo, S, Fe, breed  Necessary for growth, repro, immunity  Varying availability in supplement  Simmental/Charolais have higher req.  Supplementation is needed  Affected by Mo, S, Fe, breed  Necessary for growth, repro, immunity  Varying availability in supplement  Simmental/Charolais have higher req.

Copper deficiency  Physical appearance  Reddish appearance on black animals – behind shoulders and lower qtrs.  White ring around eyes  Liver biopsy best to assess  Physical appearance  Reddish appearance on black animals – behind shoulders and lower qtrs.  White ring around eyes  Liver biopsy best to assess

Copper Supplementation Source Cu OxideCu SulfateCu Proteinate % Pregnant8592

Selenium (Se)  Need in supplement  Se/Vit E interrelated  Regulated (3 mg/hd/da)  Increased sulfur will increase req.  Need in supplement  Se/Vit E interrelated  Regulated (3 mg/hd/da)  Increased sulfur will increase req.

Selenium Deficiency  Increase in early, embryonic death  Retained placentas  Weak calves at birth  Compromised immune system  Increase in early, embryonic death  Retained placentas  Weak calves at birth  Compromised immune system

Manganese (Mn)  Very poorly absorbed  Involved in enzyme systems  High Ca and P can increase req.  Deficiency –Deformed calves “knuckle-over” –Increase in cystic ovaries –Abortions, delayed estrus  Very poorly absorbed  Involved in enzyme systems  High Ca and P can increase req.  Deficiency –Deformed calves “knuckle-over” –Increase in cystic ovaries –Abortions, delayed estrus

Zinc (Zn)  Enzyme function  Effects repro; esp. males –Late stage spermatozoa  Enzyme function  Effects repro; esp. males –Late stage spermatozoa

Iodine (I)  Component of thyroid hormones  Goitrogenic compounds may increase need  Foot Rot  Component of thyroid hormones  Goitrogenic compounds may increase need  Foot Rot

Consumption  Salt level (don’t feed separately)  MgO level  Water in forage  Location  Man!  Salt level (don’t feed separately)  MgO level  Water in forage  Location  Man!

Beef Formula Not intended for – Goats – Sheep – Dairy (especially Jerseys) Not intended for – Goats – Sheep – Dairy (especially Jerseys)

CTC ?? Only one approved formula for free-choice feeding - an outside company owns the rights to that Anaplaz - use commercially available products Only one approved formula for free-choice feeding - an outside company owns the rights to that Anaplaz - use commercially available products

Mineral Requirements for Mature Meat Goat ElementsGestationLactation Calcium, % DM Phosphorus, % DM Magnesium, % DM Potassium, % DM Sodium, % DM Sulfur, % DM.15 Based on Nutrient Requirements of Goats NRC, 1981, 1986 Beef NRC, Goat Medicine, Smith, M. C., Sherman, D.M. 1994

Trace Mineral Requirements for Mature Meat Goat ElementsGestationLactation Cobalt, ppm.10 Copper, ppm10 Iodine, ppm.50 Iron, ppm50 Manganese, ppm40 Selenium, ppm0.3 Zinc, ppm30 Based on Nutrient Requirements of Goats NRC, 1981, 1986 Beef NRC, Goat Medicine, Smith, M. C., Sherman, D.M. 1994

MINERALS Most forages are good sources of: –Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium Most forages will be deficient in: –Salt and most trace minerals Sometimes magnesium tetany occurs in lactating does, but it is not as common as in cattle Most forages are good sources of: –Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium Most forages will be deficient in: –Salt and most trace minerals Sometimes magnesium tetany occurs in lactating does, but it is not as common as in cattle

MINERALS –Goats are quite sensitive to selenium deficiency –Goats are also commonly deficient in copper, primarily because of common "red salt" and "sheep and goat" minerals on the market –Many producers use cattle minerals, although mineral supplements designed for goats are available –Goats are quite sensitive to selenium deficiency –Goats are also commonly deficient in copper, primarily because of common "red salt" and "sheep and goat" minerals on the market –Many producers use cattle minerals, although mineral supplements designed for goats are available

Copper Toxicity In Goats Meat goats may be more susceptible than dairy goats.

Toxicity: Levels of Dietary Intake Cattle dietary levels > 100 ppm Goats (?) Sheep dietary levels ppm Cattle dietary levels > 100 ppm Goats (?) Sheep dietary levels ppm

Tolerance of Goats to Copper Research at N. Carolina State for the last 3 years on copper supplementation of goats Treatments were 0, 10 or 30 ppm added dietary copper in year 1 and 0, 1000 and 3000 ppm mineral supplement copper in year 2 and 3 Source was copper sulfate Research at N. Carolina State for the last 3 years on copper supplementation of goats Treatments were 0, 10 or 30 ppm added dietary copper in year 1 and 0, 1000 and 3000 ppm mineral supplement copper in year 2 and 3 Source was copper sulfate

Liver Copper (ppm, dry basis) after 112 days Liver Copper (ppm, dry basis) after 112 days Initial values: 123 ppm Supplemental Cu level (ppm) L: P <.02

Liver Copper, mg/kg DM Kids at Market – Study 2 Supplemental Cu, mg/kg DM L: P < 0.01

Reasons For High Cu Load Over feeding complete feeds Feeds with <1 ppm Mo and S Feeds with low Fe, Zn, Cd Over feeding ionophores, monensen, lasalocid Over feeding complete feeds Feeds with <1 ppm Mo and S Feeds with low Fe, Zn, Cd Over feeding ionophores, monensen, lasalocid Stress –Doe post weaning –Change in weather –Change in feed –Poor nutrition –Transportation –Handling –Showing –Liver damage

MILK FEVER - HYPOCALCEMIA PREVENTION Limit calcium intake from legumes or minerals 3 weeks prior to kidding Forces animal to start mechanism to mobilize body stores Balance lactation ration

URINARY CALCULI Obstruction of urinary tract Due to excessive grain in diet Mainly in young males and show bucks

URINARY CALCULI Ca : P ration = 2 : 1 to 4 : 1 Keep diet P <0.35% don't feed too much high phosphorus feeds Urinary acidifiers  10 g ammonium chloride per head per day  Ammonium chloride at 2% of concentrate ration  Ammonium sulfate at.6% to.7% of the total ration

Minerals for Sheep Specifically for sheep Free-choice, year-round Specifically for sheep Free-choice, year-round

Minerals for Sheep Spring & Summer (high quality clover) –Trace Mineral Salt (TMS) w/ Selenium Rest of Year –Complete mineral mix Spring & Summer (high quality clover) –Trace Mineral Salt (TMS) w/ Selenium Rest of Year –Complete mineral mix

Minerals for Sheep Concern: Copper Toxicity Sheep more sensitive than cattle Result of accumulation in liver over time Generally Sheep require about 5 ppm Copper (Cu) in diet; toxicity at levels above 25 ppm in diet Cu:MO ratio is important If MO is low (<1ppm) sheep are more susceptible Concern: Copper Toxicity Sheep more sensitive than cattle Result of accumulation in liver over time Generally Sheep require about 5 ppm Copper (Cu) in diet; toxicity at levels above 25 ppm in diet Cu:MO ratio is important If MO is low (<1ppm) sheep are more susceptible

Minerals for Sheep Problem: Distiller’s grains and Soybean Meal (SBM) can be variable in Cu Problem: Distiller’s grains and Soybean Meal (SBM) can be variable in Cu

Questions?