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Making $ense of Mineral Supplementation

Making $ense of Mineral Supplementation. Cody Wright, PhD Extension Beef Specialist South Dakota State University. Introduction. Animals require numerous minerals (macro and trace) for maintenance, growth, and reproduction Mineral nutrition is complex and not well understood.

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Making $ense of Mineral Supplementation

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  1. Making $ense of Mineral Supplementation Cody Wright, PhD Extension Beef Specialist South Dakota State University

  2. Introduction • Animals require numerous minerals (macro and trace) for maintenance, growth, and reproduction • Mineral nutrition is complex and not well understood

  3. Assessing Mineral Status • Objectively analyze production • Rule out other factors • Determine mineral supply • Forage, supplement, and water • SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE!! • Directly sample the animal • Blood or liver

  4. Sampling Feeds • Trace minerals in clipped and selected samples are similar • Selected samples generally contain greater levels of Ca and P than clipped samples • Sample the forages that cattle are grazing

  5. Sampling Feeds • Sample silages or delivered feeds periodically to monitor changes • Minerals in feeds and forages are not 100% available • 50% is a reasonable guideline • Don’t forget the water

  6. Assessing Mineral Status • Compare mineral supply to requirements • Consider intake • Feed and mineral

  7. Requirements • Depend on • Age • Size • Sex • Physiological state • Level of performance • Breed • Presence of antagonists

  8. Antagonists • Sulfur • > 500 ppm in water can  Cu absorption • Alone or in combination with Mo • Molybdenum • Cu:Mo ratio of 4.5:1 and dietary S > .25% • Iron • > 50 ppm

  9. Meeting Requirements • Primary sources of minerals • Forage (grazed or harvested) • Supplemental feed ingredients • Supplemental minerals • Fed • Bolus • Injected

  10. Western Wheatgrass Adapted from Grings et al. (1996) *Mineral concentrations in live and dead tissue differ P < .01

  11. Western Wheatgrass Adapted from Grings et al. (1996) *Mineral concentrations in live and dead tissue differ P < .01

  12. Sandhills Meadow Hay Adapted from Hickock et al. (1996) ≥ 75% of requirement for gestating cow

  13. Formulating Supplements • Considerations • Animal requirements • Minerals in feeds and forages • Potential antagonists • Sources and levels • Expected responses

  14. Formulating Supplements • Phosphorus is generally the most expensive mineral to supplement So, why do we feed so much?

  15. Phosphorus • Late 1930’s • King Ranch •  % calf crop by 40% and 41% •  weaning wt by 69 lb and 49 lb •  lb weaned per cow exposed by 156 lb and 165 lb • Return per $1 invested = $3.95 and $12.35 Adapted from Herd (1997)

  16. Phosphorus • Karn (1995 and 1997) • Less dramatic responses • Heifers -  conception rates and weight gain • Cows -  weight gain and weaning weights • Small and inconsistent

  17. Formulating Supplements • General guideline • Each 1% P costs adds ~$11 per ton • Reducing from 12% to 8% P •  mineral cost by ~$44 per ton • Savings of $1.50 per cow • $750 per year for a 500 hd operation

  18. Supplemental P Adapted from Paisley and Hill (2000)

  19. Supplemental P Adapted from Paisley and Hill (2000)

  20. Phosphorus in Feeds Gestating cows require .17 to .22 Lactating cows require .22 to .39

  21. Formulating Supplements *Assumes 1200 lb cow consuming DM at 2% of body weight and mineral intake of 3 oz per day

  22. Maximum Levels • Selenium • 3 mg/hd/d or .3 ppm in diet • Iodine • 10 mg/hd/d • Well below level claimed to prevent footrot

  23. Mineral Sources • Critical to formulating cost-effective programs • Cost per unit of mineral • Consider mineral concentration and bioavailability

  24. Bioavailability Most bioavailable Organic Sulfate and chloride Carbonates Oxides Least bioavailable IN GENERAL, BUT NOT ALWAYS!!

  25. Organic Minerals? • Two supplements • 100% of NRC @ 3 oz per day • 100% inorganic = $580/ton • 50/50 blend = $680/ton • 17.2%  in cost ($3.42 per cow)

  26. Responses • Key to evaluating changes • Potential benefits • Health • Weaning weight • Growth performance • Reproductive efficiency

  27. Responses  Immune Function  Growth or Fertility Clinical Signs Sub-Clinical Clinical

  28. Responses • Cost / benefit analysis • Must be able to pay for any increase in cost • Can we reduce cost without sacrificing production?

  29. Strategic Supplementation • Supplement only when needed • Begin ~45 days before calving • Continue through breeding season

  30. Strategic Supplementation • Year round • $400 per ton @ 2 oz per day • $9.13 per cow • Strategic (Feb 1 to July 1) • $400 per ton @ 3 oz per day • $5.63 per cow (38% less) • $1750 savings on 500 hd operation

  31. Summary • Objectively evaluate current herd mineral status • Rule out other factors • Sample forages, supplements, and water to determine mineral intake and level of antagonists

  32. Summary • Formulate or purchase mineral supplements to correct imbalances • Develop strategic mineral program to reduce expenses • Estimate and objectively evaluate production responses

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