What are minerals...and why are they important?
|
| Minerals are the organic elements found in all living things.
Although found in small amounts, minerals are essential for the utilization of energy and
protein. They are required for life. |
Almost 3% of a cow's body
weight is comprised of minerals.
(See Table 1) Notice the dominant importance of calcium
and phosphorus. These two minerals plus potassium, sodium, and sulfur are considered major
minerals. Other minerals are considered trace minerals only because they are required in
smaller amounts — not that they are any less important. |
The general functions of livestock minerals are to:
- give strength to the
skeletal structure
- serve as a component
of protein
- activate enzyme
systems
- control fluid balance,
osmotic pressure, and excretion
- regulate acid-base
balance
- engage in
mineral/vitamin relationships
|
| Calcium (Ca) |
1.33% |
| Phosphorus (P) |
0.74% |
| Potassium (K) |
0.19% |
| Sodium (Na) |
0.16% |
| Sulfur (S) |
0.15% |
| Chlorine (Cl) |
0.11% |
| Magnesium (Mg) |
0.04% |
| Iron (Fe) |
0.01% |
| TOTAL |
2.73% |
|
Below is a list of livestock disorders that can result from a deficiency
of specific minerals:
- Phosphorus (P) —
Poor appetite, slow growth, and improper bone development.
- Calcium (Ca) —
Improper bone development, slow growth, and low milk production.
- Magnesium (Mg) —
Grass tetany, nervousness, and reduced butterfat.
- Sulfur (S) —
Depressed appetite, excessive salivation, and watery eyes.
- Cobalt (Co) —
Poor appetite, listlessness, and reduced conception.
- Copper (Cu) —
Diarrhea, slow growth, and discolored hair.
- Iodine (I) — Enlarged
thyroid (goiter) and listlessness.
- Iron (Fe) —
Anemia and listlessness.
- Manganese (Mn) —
Delayed estrus, reduced conception rate, and deformed newborns.
- Selenium (Se) —
White muscle disease, retained placenta, infertility, and susceptibility to infection.
- Zinc (Zn) —
Rough haircoat, swollen feet, and stiff joints.
|
Below is a list of life systems that are
dependent on specific minerals to function normally:
- Immune System —
Cu, Zn, Fe, Se
- Blood Production — Cu, Fe
- Reproduction —
P, Cu, K, Mn, Zn, Mg
- Hormone System —
Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mg, K
- Energy Production — Mg, P, Mn
- Enzyme System —
Zn, Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe
- Vitamin Production — Co
|
When is a mineral supplement needed?
- Just as the demand for energy and
protein increase during calving, lactating, and rebreeding, so does the demand for
minerals, trace minerals, and vitamins. The daily phosphorus requirement of a dry
cow is 20 grams. That same cow requires almost 30 grams of phosphorus per day during
rebreeding. Any lesser amount will result in poor conception, less milk, and lower weaning
weights.
- Livestock are solely dependent on
quality feedstuffs as a source for minerals, trace minerals, and vitamins. These
elements cannot be synthesized in the body. Likewise, quality of feedstuffs is dependent
on the amount of nutrients in the soil for the plant to absorb. If a soil is
nutrient-deficient, plants cannot supply the dietary requirements of animals. Extreme
weather and time of the year can also reduce the nutrient content of plants.
- Minerals, trace minerals and vitamins
all interact and are dependent on each other to perform their specific function.
This diagram illustrates which minerals interact with each other. Minerals also interact
with the organic components of rations to improve nutrient utilization. Plus, all
minerals, trace minerals, and vitamins are directly involved in the reactions of animal
metabolism. So, to benefit from the full nutritional value of any one mineral, adequate
quantities of all other minerals must be available.
|
| Using these three guidelines, let's walk through the
steps necessary to determine the need for a mineral supplement: |
| Step #1: We can plot a chart (Figure 1)
that shows as a cow develops through the year, its demand for phosphorus fluctuates,
reaching a high of 28 grams during calving, lactation, and rebreeding and a low of 20
grams in late fall. Demand charts for other nutrients would have a similar shape. |
 |
| Step #2: Estimate the mineral content
of rations. (Table 2) Three typical pasture grasses for this area are wheatgrass,
bromegrass and buffalograss. Let's estimate the value of bromegrass. During spring and
summer under ideal conditions bromegrass will provide 0.77 grams of phosphorus per pound
of dry matter. If an 1100-pound cow during heavy lactation and early pregnancy consumes
22.3 pounds of dry matter, bromegrass will provide 17.2 grams of phosphorus. |
| Keeping in mind that poor growing
conditions can reduce ration quality, multiply the total by a 75% "efficiency
factor." Using an efficiency factor offers a more realistic number because it
accounts for factors that reduce pasture quality, like excessive moisture, poor soil
fertility, extreme weather, and time of the year — so, bromegrass really only
supplies about 13 grams of phosphorus. Wheatgrass supplies about 19 grams and buffalograss
9 grams. Poor forage quality can also affect digestibility and palatability, which lowers
consumption and further reduces nutrient uptake. |
| |
Grams Available
Phosphorus per Pound |
*Pounds Daily Consumption
Dry Matter |
**TOTAL |
***75% Efficiency Factor |
| Wheatgrass |
1.12 |
22.3 |
25.0g |
19.0g |
| Bromegrass |
0.77 |
22.3 |
17.2g |
13.0g |
| Buffalograss |
0.54 |
22.3 |
12.0g |
9.0g |
| *1100 pound, heavy
lactating, pregnant cow. |
| **Based on ideal growing conditions. |
| ***Efficiency Factor accounts for conditions that reduce grass quality — excessive
moisture content, poor soil fertility, extreme weather, and time of year. |
|
| Typical winter feeding
programs for this area are alfalfa hay, bromegrass hay, prairiegrass hay and cornstalks.
(Table 3) Let's estimate the value of alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay supplies 0.66 grams of
phosphorus per pound. If the same 1100-pound dry, pregnant cow consumes 19.5 pounds of dry
matter, alfalfa hay will provide 13 grams of phosphorus. Bromegrass hay and prairiegrass
hay each supply 7 grams and cornstalks supply 4 grams. |
| |
Grams
Available Phosphorus per Pound |
*Pounds Daily
Consumption Dry Matter |
TOTAL |
| Alfalfa Hay |
0.66 |
19.5 |
13.0g |
| Bromegrass Hay |
0.38 |
19.5 |
7.0g |
| Prairiegrass Hay |
0.34 |
19.5 |
7.0g |
| Cornstalks |
0.21 |
19.5 |
4.0g |
| *1100 pound dry
pregnant cow. |
|
 |
| Step #3: Determine if the amount of
nutrients supplied by rations satisfy the demand of the animal. (Figure 2) Superimposing
the amount of phosphorus supplied by pasture grasses and winter rations, it can be shown
that most feedstuffs fall short of supplying adequate nutrition throughout the entire
year. |
| Take special note of the
deficit during the summer months. Pastures are lush and green but that is also when the
animal's nutrient demand is peaking. Winter feeding programs are especially short of
phosphorus in late winter and early spring. This chart clearly shows that livestock need a
mineral supplement to balance the difference between supply and demand. |
What is the importance of a "complete"
mineral supplement for livestock? |
| Figure 2 clearly shows that livestock need a complete mineral
supplement. Remembering guideline #3 — that all minerals interact with each other
— it is good feed management to provide a complete mineral supplement year
‘round. Most rations are deficient of one or more minerals at different times
throughout the year. A complete mineral supplement not only supplies phosphorus and
calcium, but is a total package of all important minerals, trace minerals and vitamins
formulated in exact amounts for maximum utilization by the animal. |
| Salt blocks or trace mineral
salt blocks contain little or no nutrient value making them ineffective as a mineral
supplement. |
| Remember, profit requires maximum producing livestock and maximum production
is dependent on daily diets that provide required levels of all necessary
nutrients, including minerals, trace minerals and vitamins. |
When do chelated trace
minerals perform best? |
| Chelated trace minerals are minerals that have been put through a process that attach them to an amino acid, protein, peptide, or other organic compound. |
| Chelated trace minerals may have their place if producers are dealing with stressed calves, flushing cows for embryos, or using artificial insemination. |
| Dr. David Hutcheson with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Amarillo found it difficult to improve weight gain using chelated trace minerals, but did find they were effective in reducing stress caused by shipping fever and helping calves fight disease. |
| Other testing has shown that chelated trace minerals have helped during heat synchronization for artificial insemination and flushing cows for embryo transplant. There are also claims that conception rates are higher for cows being fed chelated trace minerals. |
| However, many nutritionists agree including Fred Owens, Professor of Animal Science at the University of Oklahoma, that higher levels of conventional trace minerals provide the same nutrition as chelated trace minerals. Professor Owens states, ’Providing trace minerals at adequate levels are more important than the form of the mineral.’ |
| What does all this mean? It means the jury is still out on chelated trace minerals. Kay Dee Feed Company uses organic and inorganic trace minerals to provide high quality, readily available trace minerals that accurately supply livestock needs. |
Research shows mineral supplementation
increases livestock productivity. |
| This field test (Table 4) compares the rate of cows settled
on first-service fed a low phosphorus supplement with a group fed a high phosphorus
supplement. The group fed a phosphorus level below the daily-recommended amount settled
59% on first-service, 35% on second, and 6% remained open. The group fed a phosphorus
level high enough to satisfy the daily-recommended amount settled 89% on first-service and
11% on second. This second group produced 9.4% more weaning weight — earning
an extra $28.00 profit per calf! |
| Cows supplemented with
phosphorus levels
below daily recommended amounts:
59% settled on first service — 35% settled on second service — 6% open |
| Cows supplemented with
phosphorus levels
high enough to satisfy daily recommended amounts
89% settled on first service — 11% settled on second service — 0% open |
| 9.4% more weaning
weight*
*Based on first service calves gaining 2.5 pounds per day for
200 days.
Second service calves gaining 2.5 pounds per day for 179 days. |
| $28.00 EXTRA
PROFIT PER CALF**
**Based on calves sold a $.80 per pound less $6.00 per head for cost of mineral. |
|
Maximum livestock production does
require a
complete mineral supplement! |
