Influence of pre-weaning trace mineral exposure on subsequent performance and trace mineral status of beef calves during finishing

Authors: Neville, Bryan; BAUMGAERTNER, F - North Dakota State University; PICKINPAUGH, W - North Dakota State University; MENEZES, A - South Dakota State University; MCCARTHY, K - University Of Nebraska; UNDI, M - North Dakota State University; DAHLEN, C - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Bovine Practitioner Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/22/2023
Publication Date: 1/16/2024
Citation: Neville, B.W., Baumgaertner, F., Pickinpaugh, W.J., Menezes, A.C., McCarthy, K.L., Undi, M.R., Dahlen, C.R. 2024. Influence of pre-weaning trace mineral exposure on subsequent performance and trace mineral status of beef calves during finishing. Bovine Practitioner. 58(1):1-7.

Interpretive Summary: Diet alone may not supply sufficient trace minerals to optimize health and performance of livestock. With many post-weaning feeding studies, the effects of mineral supplementation have been variable and are likely impacted by pre-weaning nutritional status. This project had two primary objectives. The first was to determine if providing calves access to trace mineral supplements prior to weaning improved growth performance or liver trace mineral concentration of calves after feedlot arrival. Second, we evaluated the impacts of source of trace minerals (chelate versus sulfate or chloride) on the performance and changes in trace mineral concentrations in calves during backgrounding. Providing access to trace mineral supplements during grazing, prior to weaning, had no impact on subsequent gain or intake during growing and finishing. Providing an organic source of select trace minerals resulted in moderate improvements in average daily gain during backgrounding. The decision to use organic or inorganic sources of trace minerals may be better evaluated based on improvements to health rather than animal performance.

Technical Abstract: Objectives of these experiments were 1) evaluate the accumulation of Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn in liver tissue during the finishing period of calves with or without previous mineral supplement exposure; and 2) evaluate the performance of calves provided either organic or inorganic sources of Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn. One-hundred twenty steers (584 ± 62.4lb initial BW) of unknown mineral history, and 48 steers (564 ± 26.7 lb initial BW) of known mineral history prior to weaning were comingled and used in experiment 1. Steers were allocated to pens, with pen assigned to receive either an inorganic (8 pens) or organic (8 pens) trace minerals. For experiment 2, 83 steers (650 ± 57.3lb initial BW) with or without exposure to mineral supplements during gestation and the subsequent lactation were utilized in a 181-d finishing experiment. In experiment 1, ADG tended to be greater (P = 0.09) during the first 53 days on feed in calves provided organic trace minerals. Calves with trace mineral access prior to weaning were heavier at the time of feedlot arrival (P = 0.06), but not at slaughter (P = 0.37). Providing access to mineral supplements to cow/calf pairs during grazing increased (P < 0.01) Cu and Co, but did not affect (P >/= 0.29) Zn or Mn concentrations at feedlot arrival. Liver Cu status improved during backgrounding in steers fed the organic trace minerals in experiment 1. In conclusion, for calves of known mineral history providing access to mineral supplements during grazing, prior to weaning, had no impacts on subsequent gain or intake during growing and finishing. Providing organic forms of trace minerals tended to improve growth early in the feeding period.