Trace Elements in Beef Cattle: A Review of the Scientific Approach from One Health Perspective

Abstract

The objective was to investigate the context, approach and research topics present in the papers that analysed trace elements in beef cattle to identify gaps and scientific perspectives for the sustainable management of trace elements in livestock. The main research groups came from the United States, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India and Slovakia, which represented 31% of the papers produced. Only 37% of studies addressed aspects that integrated animal, environmental and human health. The reviewed papers concerned 56 elements and 15 bovine tissues (Cu, Zn, Pb, liver, muscle and kidney highlighted). The main gaps were (1) lack of research in developing countries, (2) the need to understand the impact of different environmental issues and their relationship to the conditions in which animals are raised, and (3) the need to understand the role of many trace elements in animal nutrition and their relationship to environmental and human health. Finally, we highlight possible ways to expand knowledge and provide innovations for broad emerging issues, primarily through expanding collaborative research networks. In this context, we suggest the adoption of the One Health approach for planning further research on trace elements in livestock. Moreover, the One Health approach should also be considered for managers and politicians for a sustainable environmental care and food safety.

Keywords: environment; farm; food safety; livestock; sustainability.

Figure 1

Number of papers concerning trace elements in beef cattle production published in the period 2000–2022: (A) bar plot and trend line, with confidence interval (shaded area) for papers published by year, between 2000 and 2022; data referring to 2022 were obtained up to 1 July 2022 and adjusted to the 12-month period by multiplying by 2; (B) map showing the number of papers published in different countries.

Figure 2

Co-authorship networks active in the period 2000–2022 in research on trace elements in beef cattle production. The nodes represent the relevance of the authors; the links represent the co-authorship among authors, and the colors represent the main networks identified.

Figure 3

Number of papers published in the period 2000–2022 about trace elements in beef cattle production: (A) trace elements most studied; (B) trace elements less studied; Others elements: Ar, Au, Be, Bi, Dy, Er, Eu, Ga, Gd, Hf, Ho, In, Ir, Lu, Nd, Pr, Pt, Sm, Te, Ti, Th, Tm, Yb; (C) bovine tissues analysed; (D) main analytical techniques used.

Figure 4

Number of papers published in the period 2000–2022 about trace elements in beef cattle production classified by research scope within the One Health approach: (A) interface of number of papers categorized by research aspects and research scope; (B) number of papers categorized by main journals and by research scope.