Supplementing Trace Minerals to Beef Cows during Gestation to Enhance Productive and Health Responses of the Offspring

Abstract

Nutritional management during gestation is critical to optimize the efficiency and profitability of beef production systems. Given the essentiality of trace minerals to fetal developmental processes, their supplementation represents one approach to optimize offspring productivity. Our research group investigated the impacts of supplementing gestating beef cows with organic-complexed (AAC) or inorganic sources (INR) of Co, Cu, Mn, or Zn on productive and health responses of the progeny. Calves born to AAC supplemented cows had reduced incidence of bovine respiratory disease and were >20 kg heavier from weaning until slaughter compared to unsupplemented cohorts. Complementing these findings, heifer progeny born to AAC supplemented cows had accelerated puberty attainment. Collectively, research demonstrates supplementing trace minerals to gestating beef cows may be a strategy to enhance offspring productivity in beef production systems.

Keywords: beef cows; developmental programming; gestation; health; offspring; production; trace minerals.

Figure 1

Puberty attainment of replacement heifers from beef cows that received diets containing supplemental sulfate sources of Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn (INR) or organic-complexed source of Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn (AAC) during gestation. Adapted from Harvey et al. [85]. Heifers were weaned on d 367 of the experiment, at ~7 mo of age. A treatment × day interaction was detected (p < 0.01). Within days: † 0.05 ≤ p ≤ 0.10; * p ≤ 0.05; ** p < 0.01.