Mineral Supplementation of the Cow Herd

Dr. Jeff LehmkuhlerExtension Beef Cattle Specialist

University of Kentucky

Is she copper deficient?

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

Inhalation of H2S leads to PEM

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

Takes Time to Replenish Stores

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)

Potential Impact on Male Fertility

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

Questions?