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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Simple Summary

The trace mineral nutrition of ruminants has been widely studied; however, most of the research has focused on the requirements of mature cattle, and the requirements of trace minerals for calves prior to weaning are poorly understood. This study investigated how two levels of trace mineral supplements provided to beef calves before weaning affect their performance and mineral status. Apart from Cu, which is often a limited trace mineral in many regions, the supplementation of trace minerals above the NASEM (2016) recommendations did not improve the mineral status of beef calves.

Abstract

In this 2-year study, approximately 84 days prior to weaning, 24 calves/year (Angus × Hereford) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: trace mineral (Cu, Se, and Zn) supplementation following NASEM (2016) recommendations (Control) or trace mineral supplementation above NASEM (2016) recommendations (Super). Calves were individually fed, and trace minerals were provided in 0.5 kg of dry distiller’s grains three times weekly. Body weight (BW), blood, and liver samples were collected on d 0 and at weaning (d 84). Additional BW and blood samples were collected post-weaning on d 85, 87, 88, 91, 95, and 99 during the preconditioning phase. Initial liver concentrations of Se, Cu, and Zn were similar between treatments (p ≥ 0.69). At weaning, a year effect (p < 0.001) and a tendency for treatment × year effect (p = 0.09) were observed for Cu liver concentration. In year 2, but not in year 1, calves assigned to the Super treatment tended to have greater liver Cu concentration than calves assigned to the Control treatment. Except for Cu, a notoriously limited trace mineral in multiple geographical locations, the supplementation of trace minerals above the NASEM (2016) recommendations did not improve the mineral status of calves in this environment.

Details

Title
Evaluation of Two Levels of Trace Mineral Supplementation to Beef Calves Prior to Weaning
Author
Hernandez, Gracia M P 1 ; Aline C R Dos Santos 1 ; Ferreira, Matheus F L 2 ; Bohnert, David 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ranches, Juliana 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University, Burns, OR 97720, USA; [email protected] (G.M.P.H.); [email protected] (A.C.R.D.S.); [email protected] (D.B.) 
 Hill Farm Research Station, Louisiana State University, Homer, LA 71040, USA 
First page
2875
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20762615
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3116562569
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.