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

2. Is she copper deficient?

3. 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

4. Hypocalcemia (Milk Fever)
Normal blood Ca 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

5. 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

6. Hypomagnesemia (Grass Tetany)
Normal blood Mg mg/dL
Clinical 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] %
Source: J.P. Goff 2008 The Vet Journal

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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 % added limestone

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

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

16. Takes Time to Replenish Stores

17. 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%.”

18. 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

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

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

21. 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)

22. Potential Impact on Male Fertility

23. 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 ppm of Mn - > 540 ppm reduced sperm integrity

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

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

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

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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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 $ $ $
Allows 3 product comparison
Accounts for target intake
Example of why no red block
Illustrates Price/day
DOES NOT account for bioavailability

33. Questions?