Mineral Nutrition

Jaymelynn Farney Justin Waggoner Chris Reinhardt

Extension Beef Specialists

Kansas State University

Why do we feed mineral?

1. Phosphorus

2. Other

1. Calcium

2. Potassium

3. Magnesium (sometimes)

3. Trace minerals

4. Vitamins

Minerals

Most complicated & least understood

components of nutrition

Forage mineral content varies

Mineral supplement intake also

varies

Recent interest has been fueled by:

Increased mineral cost

Cost reducing strategies

Co

P

Se

Fe

Ca

CuMn

Mo

I

Mg

Zn

As

S

F

Key Interactions

Zn Cu

Fe Zn, CuMo, S Cu

Na

Cl K

K Mg

Ca P

Mineral Interactions

Adapted from Greene, 1998

Growth/Fertility

MineralStatus

Time

ClinicalSub-clinicalAdequate

Immunity & Enzyme Function

Clinical Signs

Wikse, 1992

Model of a Decline in the Trace

Mineral Status of Cattle

Minerals

Macrominerals

Expressed % of diet (part

per hundred)

Calcium

Phosphorus

Magnesium

Potassium

Sulfur

Sodium

Chlorine

Microminerals (trace)

Expressed as ppm

copper

zinc

selenium

manganese

cobalt

iodine

iron

chromium

molybdenum

Developing a

Mineral Program

1. Assess animal need

2. Dietary (forage + feed) mineral supply

3. Selecting an appropriate supplement

Supplementation Strategy

Ca and P Requirements

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40M

arc

h

Ap

ril

Ma

y

Ju

ne

Ju

ly

Au

g.

Se

pt.

Oc

t.

No

v.

De

c.

Ja

n.

Fe

b.

Re

qu

ire

me

nt,

% D

iet

DM Ca Requirement 1200 lb Cow

P Requirement 1200 lb Cow

Calving

Mineral Content

Kansas Grass

Ingredient W KS Native E KS Native Tall Fescue

Marston and Yauk, 2001; Paisley and Brazle

Calcium 0.51 0.49 0.33

Phosphorous 0.06-0.30 0.10-0.20 0.22

Potassium (K) - 1.08 2.0

Magnesium (Mg) - 0.13- 0.19 0.12-0.22

Copper (Cu), ppm 15 25 9

Zinc (Zn), ppm 34 33 18

Manganese (Mn), ppm 41 75 100

Selenium (Se), ppm - 0. 5 0.5

Grass Type

Phos mineral content

around the countryAve Min Max Location Forage type Citation

0.34% 0.10% 0.59% W. Virginia Rayburn et al.,

2006

0.36% 0.13% 0.55% TN and KY Fescue Lane (2003-2004)

0.12% 0.25% IA Haan et al., 2007

0.32% 0.47% FL Oats/rye/ryegrass Chelliah et al.,

2008

0.29% 0.11% 0.57% KY Hay Lehmkuhler, 2010

0.39% 0.10% 0.70% MO Oat/wheat/cereal rye Dodson, 2017

Many beef cattle studies find no benefit with

supplementation of P when pasture concentrations are

0.15% to 0.20% - summarized from Lehmkuhler, applied

reproductive strategies 2010

P Needs

Calving

P Needs

Calving

Higher milking cow…

Calving

Later calving…

Calving

Later calving…+ early weaning…

Calving

No rain…

Calving

So…

Cows req. = gestation +/- lactation

(Requirement) – (grass + feed) =

supplement needed

Native pasture 0.06 – 0.30

Soybean Meal 0.71

Cottonseed Meal 0.76

DDG 0.83

Corn Gluten Feed 0.95

Wheat Midds 1.00

Supplemental Feed

Feedstuff % P

Wright, 2003

Distiller’s Grains and Sulfur

Feedstuff Sulfur, % DM

Alfalfa 0.28

Corn 0.14

Wheat Midds 0.19

Cottonseed Meal 0.26

Soybean Meal 0.46

Corn Gluten Feed 0.47

Dried Distiller’s Grains 0.77(0.44 – 1.72)

NRC, 2000; Buckner et al., 2008

Supplemental Feed

1200 lb mature beef cow

Peak lactation P requirement = 26.5 g/d

Dry Matter Intake

27.6 lbs Native Grass 0.10 12.5

3.0 lbs DDGS 0.83 11.3

Total 23.8

% P P, g/d

90% of Lactation requirement!

Be aware of mineral imbalances!

Water Sources

Supplementation Strategies

1. Continuous

A. Same mineral year round

A. Consumption will vary w/ grass phos

B. Forage base determines mineral

specs

A. Easier to achieve target consumption

2. Strategic Supplementation

Altered in response to animal need +

dietary supply

Same mineral all year

Calving

Match formula to needs through

the year

Calving

4-6% P--------------- 8-12% P -----------------------------------

Feed strategically

Calving

free choice force feed

Based on complete dietBased on forage quality

Microminerals (trace

minerals)

Outside of selenium, many of the

important microminerals are

deficient in forages

Selenium deficient areas of the

country

Kansas has fairly good soil selenium

which correlates to adequate

selenium in forages – in general

SALT and trace minerals need to

supplemented on a regular basis

Profit Tips

Minerals: important component of

nutrition

Reproduction, growth, health = Profit

Keep program simple but:

Animal needs

Dietary supply

LETS COMPLICATE MINERAL

NUTRITION EVEN MORE….

NOW

Breeding – trace mineral

Trace minerals become very important

from a breeding perspective

Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Mg??

Many forms of trace minerals

Organic

• Chelated, Complexes, proteinate,

polysaccharide, hydroxy analogue

chelate, metal proprionate

Non-organic

• ZnO, ZnS04, MnO, etc

Organic vs non (inorganic)

Yes to organics if issues with….

Breeding

Foot rot (especially Met-Zn)

Scours

Grass tetany (amino acid-Mg)

Weaning

Calving

AI or embryo work

No if herd seems healthy and productive

Bioavailability of trace minerals

Organics Sulfates Oxides

Bioavailability of organic

trace minerals

Chelates

Proteinates –sometimes chelate

sometimes complex

Complexes

Supplement Mineral

concentration

(MC, %)

Relative

Bioavailability

*

(RV, %)

Mineral

Availability

(MC x RV)

Calcium

Calcium carbonate 38 100 38.0

Calcium chloride 31 125 38.75

Dicalcium phosphate 20 110 22.00

Limestone 36 90 32.40

Monocalcium

phosphate

17 130 22.10

Cobalt

Cobaltous sulfate 21 100 21.00

Cobaltic oxide 73 20 14.60

Cobaltous carbonate 47 110 51.70

Cobaltous oxide 70 55 38.50

Copper

Cupric sulfate 25 100 25.00

Cupric chloride

(tribasic)

58 115 66.70

Cupric oxide 75 15 11.25

Copper

(organic form)

130

Iodine

Potassium iodate 69 100 69.00

Calcium iodate 64 95 60.80

Ethylenediamine

(EDDI)

80 105 84.00

Magnesium

Magnesium sulfate 20 100 20.00

Magnesium oxide 55 100 55.00

Manganese

Manganese sulfate 30 100 30.00

Manganese carbonate 46 30 13.80

Manganese

(organic form)

176

Phosphorus

Defluorinated

phosphate

12 80 9.60

Dicalcium phosphate 18 85 15.30

Selenium

Sodium selenite 45 100 45.00

Sodium

Sodium chloride 40 100 40.00

Sodium bicarbonate 27 95 25.65

Zinc

Zinc sulfate 36 100 36.00

Zinc carbonate 56 60 33.60

Zinc oxide 72 100 72.00

Zinc (organic form) 159-206

*Relative bioavailability is the quantity or percent of the mineral that is

absorbed. Relative bioavailability is expressed relative to the source listed

first (italicized) for each mineral. A higher relative bioavailability shows

greater absorption of the minerals by the cattle.

Adapted from: Ammerman, C.B., D.H. Baker, and A.J. Lewis. 1995.

Bioavailability of Nutrients for Animals. New York: Academic Press; National

Research Council. 1998. Nutrient Requirements of Swine, 10th revised

edition. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press; Mineral Supplements

for Beef Cattle, University of Missouri Extension, Chad Hale and K.C. Olson,

2000; and Beef Cattle Mineral Nutrition, North Dakota State University

Extension Service, Marcy Ward and Greg Lardy, 2005.

SE KS fescue study

Ranch A Ranch B Ranch C Ranch D All Ranches P - value

Item COMP1 CHEL2 COMP CHEL COMP CHEL COMP CHEL COMP CHEL T3 R4 T × R5

No. of cows 49 50 15 17 14 16 20 22 98 105

% Pregnant 86.2 92.2 70.6 93.3 100 100 94.5 85.0 88.1 92.7 0.07 0.01 0.02

% Pregnant 1st 21d

57.9 43.7 28.6 36.4 35.7 78.6 11.8 23.8 33.5 45.6 0.49 0.41 0.60

% Pregnant 2nd 21 d

25.1 43.8 42.9 36.4 57.1 21.4 0.0 9.5 32.3 27.8 0.81 0.39 0.52

% Pregnant 3rd 21 d

9.4 12.5 28.6 27.3 0.0 0.0 88.2 66.7 31.5 26.6 0.55 0.01 0.67

% Pregnant 4th 21 d

7.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.7 0.57 0.93 0.93

Average

calving date

within calving season6, d

25 26 30 32 14 28 41 50 28 34 0.04<0.001

0.25

1 COMP: free-choice mineral with trace minerals from organic minerals in amino acid complex form (Availa-4, Zinpro

Corp, Eden Prairie, MN) with magnesium from magnesium oxide (MgO)2 CHEL: free-choice mineral with trace minerals from organic minerals in amino acid chelated form (Mineralate-

3ChelateBlend, Nutech Biosciences, Inc, Oneida, NY) and magnesium from amino acid chelated magnesium

(Mineralate-Mg 10, Nutech Biosciences, Inc, Oneida, NY)3 T: treatment comparison between COMP and CHEL4 R: Ranch effect5 T × R: treatment by ranch interaction effect6 Within each ranch the average calving date for cows on each mineral treatment the summer before.

Farney and Schueltz, unpublished

Pregnancy rates by ranchFarney and Schueltz, unpublished

Serum Mg levels

Serum Mg less

than 19 mg/g has

been shown to be

found in cows that

abort (Schneider,

2007)

All ranches started

with serum Mg

greater than 19

mg/g

Serum levels of minerals

and ave. daily mineral intake

Mineral TagBrand X Mineral

Guaranteed Analysis

Calcium, not less than………...11.5%

Calcium, not more than…........13.5%

Phosphorous, not less than…..12.0%

Salt, not less than……………..11.0%

Salt, not more than……………13.0%

Potassium, not less than………1.0%

Cobalt, not less than………14.0 ppm

Copper, not less than…….1300 ppm

Iodine, not less than………0.0088%

Selenium, not less than…..4000 ppm

Dicalcium Phosphate, Processed

Grain By-Products, Salt, Calcium

Carbonate, Yeast Culture,

Potassium Chloride, Manganous

Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Oxide,

Manganese Sulfate, Copper Oxide

Ingredients

Beef Cattle- Brand X Mineral is

recommended for free choice

feeding to all cattle grazing

grass pastures. Optimum intake

is 2-4 ounces per head daily

Directions for use:

if it’s not on the label it may

not be in the product!

Ingredients differ in

bio-availability

Sulfate forms are

generally more available

Be aware of target intake

Injectable trace minerals

Varying results – all based on whether animals

were in deficiency or not prior to injection

5 studies in Nebraska (thesis of Carmen J Brasche)

Injectable did increase liver and serum levels

of Cu, Se, Zn, Mn in cows and calves

However, no difference in animal performance

measures including growth, AI rates, or preg

rates

All animals were in adequate mineral status prior

to injection

Injectable trace minerals

K-State Study with cows in Manhattan and

Hays, KS

Injected ~105 d before calving and 30d

before Timed AI

Calves from dams that were injected also

received injections at birth and ~71 DOA

Mundell et al., 2015

Injectable trace minerals

No difference in cow weight and BCS from

initiation of study to calving and AI to weaning

BCS increased in TM injected cows between

calving and AI

% of cows cycling and overall preg rate not

different

TM injection increased TAI preg 11%

Calf BW at birth, ADG, weaning, and adj 205d

weights not different

All cows had free-choice mineral – thus

potentially all cows had adequate status

Mundell et al., 2015

Trace minerals and foot rot

Organic iodine and Zn have been found to help

with prevention of foot rot

Organic iodine – EDDI (ethylenediamine

dihydriodide)

20-25 mg/hd/d

FDA regulates how much EDDI can be used so

be careful if formulating your own mineral mix

– follow regs

Organic Zn – ZnMet

Organic forms of Cu and Se ??

VITAMINS

http://www.thomasmoorefeed.com/cattle-need-vitamins-too/

Vitamins

Expensive at this time

Use to be cheap so we fed 100-150%

of cow requirements year-round

Strategic supplementation with

vitamins

Importance of vitamins

A

Minimize calf scours, retained

placenta

E

Immune function, antioxidant,

absorption of vitamin A and selenium

D

K

B

C

We don’t need to feed to

mature ruminants because

the rumen microbes will

synthesize!!

Dietary requirements

Vitamin A

Dry pregnant cow

1270 IU/lb DMI

27.2 IU/lb of body weight

Lactating cow and

breeding bull

1769 IU/lb DMI

38.1 IU/lb body weight

Feedlot calves

998 IU/lb DMI

21.3 IU/lb body weight

Prevention of scours

30,000-45,000 IU/day

Vitamin E

Nonstressed mature

beef cattle

Diet usually meets

requirements

Newly received

stressed calves

182-227 IU/ day

Feedlot cattle that have

been straightened

12-16 IU/lb DMI

0.24-0.33 IU/lb body

weight

Vitamin A story

Good things

Sources

Alfalfa

Lush leafy green forage

Legumes

Cover crops

Stored in liver for 2-4

months

Fill gaps in low dietary

vitamin A periods

Issues

Old hay that has been

stored for a long time,

degrades vitamin A

Dormant forages low in

vitamin A

Vitamin A in mineral

mix degrades with heat

Vitamin A degradation

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Alfalfa Fescue + wheat+ ryegrass

Fescue Orchardgrass

Vit

am

in A

(IU

/lb

DM

)

3 months

4 months

7 months

Pickworth et al., 2012

Vitamin A degradation

05000

100001500020000250003000035000400004500050000

Vit

am

in A

(IU

/lb

DM

)

3 months

4 months

7 months

August

September

Pickworth et al., 2012

Vitamin E story

Good things

Sources

Alfalfa

Lush leafy green forage

Alfalfa meal

Whole grains with oil

Issues

Diets high in sulfur

containing amino acids,

selenium, corn oil,

linseed oil, or soybean

oil needs more vitamin

E

Long storage reduces E

potency

Vitamin E in mineral

mix degrades with heat

Strategic vitamin A

supplementation

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

50000

Cow requirement

Grass

Alfalfasupplementation

Strategic vitamin A

supplementation

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

400000

450000

500000

Cow requirement

Grass

Alfalfasupplementation

KEEP vitamin A in

supplement

At least 45 days prior to calving to

help with calf scours

Early lactation

Not supplementing something such

as alfalfa in dormant grass season

Feeding only harvested forages

Jaymelynn Farney, PhD

jkj@ksu.edu

620-820-6125