Mineral & Vitamin Supplementation for Beef Cattle on Pasture.
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Transcript of Mineral & Vitamin Supplementation for Beef Cattle on Pasture.
Mineral & VitaminSupplementationfor Beef Cattle on
Pasture
Introduction
• Forages are the main component of beef cattle diets in Arkansas
• Cattle rely on forages to supply– Protein– Energy– Minerals– Vitamins
1,100 lb Beef CowNutrient Requirement
Minerals &
VitaminsProtein TDN
Per Day, lb. 0.4 2.1 13.2
Percent of Total 3 13 84
Role of Vitamins and Minerals
• Bone Development
• Metabolism
• Prevent oxidative damage to cells
• Reproduction
• Immune function
• Nerve signals
• Muscle contractions
How do we determine a mineral deficiency or toxicity problem?
• Clinical symptoms
• Forage analysis
• Animal blood and tissue samples
Symptoms of Mineral Deficiencies
• Clinical symptoms– Milk Fever, Grass Tetany, Goiter, White Muscle
Disease
• Subclinical losses such as:– Lower calf crop percentage
– Higher pull rate for stressed calves
– Lower growth rate
• Subclinical losses reduce profitability and go undetected without good record keeping
Mineral in Forages
• Mineral content of forages are affected by many factors– Mineral composition of the soil– Soil pH– Growing conditions (i.e., moisture)– Plant maturity
When should a mineral/vitamin supplement be provided?
• When forages are deficient
• When forages are excessive
• When availability of nutrients from forage is limited
• When forage intake is limited
Mineral Categories
• Two General Categories– Major = Macro– Minor = Micro = Trace
Macro Minerals in Beef Cattle Diets
• Calcium (Ca)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Potassium (K)
• Sodium (Na)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Sulfur (S)
Micro Minerals in Beef Cattle Diets
• Iron (Fe)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Copper (Cu)
• Selenium (Se)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Iodine (I)
• Cobalt (Co)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
Macro Mineral Deficiencies ofArkansas Hay Samples
0102030405060708090
100
Per
cen
t
Lact. Cow
500 lb calf
Micro Mineral Deficiencies of Arkansas Hay Samples
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Per
cen
t
What Levels Are Needed in A Supplement?
• Depends on pasture quality and forage availability• The amount of calcium, phosphorus and
magnesium in a supplement is generally based on soil fertility and forage maturity.
• Trace minerals (copper, zinc and selenium) should be formulated in a mineral supplement to meet most of the requirement.
Mineral supplement for intermediate quality pastureTypical forage test Phosphorus 0.20Intake (oz/hd/d) 2 4Calcium (Ca) % 12.8-19.2 10-12Phosphorus (P) % 8-12 4-6Potassium (K) % ---Magnesium (Mg) % 4 2Salt % 10-25 10-25Sulfur (S) % 0-3 0-3Iron (Fe) ppm --- ---Manganese (Mn) ppm 4000 2000Zinc (Zn) ppm 8000 4000Copper (Cu) ppm 2500 1250Iodine (I) ppm 100 50Selenium (Se) ppm 40 20Cobalt (Co) ppm 30 15
Vitamins
• Usually not a problem on green pasture
• Vitamins A and E should be supplemented with hay
• Most mineral mixes have A, D and E added at sufficient levels
• Don’t buy more than a three-month supply of minerals because vitamins will degrade
Read the
Label!
Example Mineral #1
Example Mineral #2
Intake = 4 oz
Example Mineral #3
Additional Considerations
• Do not provide additional salt sources unless suggested on the mineral tag.
• If feeding salt-limited grain supplements, added the mineral to the grain supplement.
• If feeding grain daily, mix the mineral in with the grain if possible to ensure consistent, uniform intake of the mineral.
Additional Considerations
• If mineral intake is excessive– Add salt– Move mineral feeder further away from watering
source– Change brands
• If mineral intake is inadequate– Add a protein meal (cottonseed or soybean meal)– Add dry molasses– Move mineral feeder closer to the watering source– Change brands
In Summary
• Minerals deficiencies can result in reduced animal performance
• Make sure the mineral supplement being used has adequate levels of trace minerals
• Feed the right mineral at the right time of year
• Monitor intake and adjust if needed