Mineral Supplementation of the Cow Herd Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler Extension Beef Cattle Specialist University of Kentucky
Mineral Supplementation of the Cow Herd
Dr. Jeff LehmkuhlerExtension Beef Cattle Specialist
University of Kentucky
Need more than White Salt
White Salt Mineral Min/Promin1.35
1.41.45
1.51.55
1.61.65
1.71.75
1.81.85
ADG of Steers Grazing in Flint Hills Kansas
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
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
• Calcium
• 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, 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)
Req Fescue*Cu 10 6Se .1-.3 .06Zn 30 19Mn 40 119Co .1 .2Fe 50 100
*CHAPA, 1996
Mineral Availability from Forage
%Ca 50-68Mg 10-45P 65-70Cu 5-15Se 28-32Fe 30-70Mn 3-4
Forage Test = 10 ppm
Req’t = 10 ppm
Avail, % = 15%
Absorbed = 1.5 ppm
Deficient = 8.5 ppm
Intake free-choice mineral
Aug-Sept
Sept-O
ct
Oct-Nov
Nov-Dec
Dec-Jan
Jan-Feb
Feb-M
ar
Mar- April
April-May
May-June
June-July
July-Aug
Aug-Sept
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Mix
Patterson et al., 2013 Biol Trace Element Res
Target intake
Reproduction RevisitedFrom: 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 MaxTennessee 0.13 0.36 0.55West Virginia 0.10 0.34 0.59Wisconsin 0.08 0.25 0.48Kentucky 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
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
% Phos
Fora
ge P
hos,
% fo
r KY
Hay
Sam
ples
‘09
UK IRM Mineral Based on 0.23% P
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)
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
SEPP1+ Se
ApoER2
Boitani & Puglisi, 2009
Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx)
TestosteronePHGPx
SELENIUM
PHGPx Reduce Oxidative StressStructural Protein Sperm MidpieceSperm 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
Merrells et al., 2009
Male rats Black = Control Zn Adequate White = Marginal Zn Striped = Deficient Solid Gray = Pair fed Con to Def level
Trace Minerals Needed
WHITE SALTYELLOW SALT
Watch the Source Copper Sulfate + Copper Chloride ++ Copper Proteinate ++++ NO Copper Oxide
Se & Cu Key
Mineral Source % in BlockSodium 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%
Popular Red TM Block – Looking Inside
98% SALTSelenium ??, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium???
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 IRMCalcium, min gm 0.0 17.4 9.4Calcium, max gm 0.0 20.8 10.2Phosphorus gm 0.0 8.5 4.3
Salt, min gm 41.7 15.3 18.7Salt, max gm 42.1 18.4 21.3
Magnesium gm 0.0 0.6 1.7Potassium gm 0.0 0.2 0.4
Iodine mg 3.0 5.7 5.5Cobalt mg 2.1 1.4 1.3Copper mg 12.8 164.6 136.2
Manganese mg 85.1 561.8 425.6Selenium mg 0.0 3.0 3.0
Zinc mg 149.0 539.1 272.4Vitamin A IU 0 95000 46875Vitamin D IU 0 25000 0Vitamin E IU 0 93.75 46.875
0 Medication A mg 0 0 0Medication B mg 0.0 0.0 0.0
Target Intake oz/hd/d 1.5 4 3Price/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