The main factor determining cow herd profitability is optimal reproduction. Furthermore, nutrition is the main factor in determining reproductive success. Energy and protein nutrition are paramount in this endeavor, and mineral nutrition is vitally important as well. If you are going to provide a well-balanced mineral supplement, you should manage that mineral program with the same level of intensity as your macronutrition program.
The heart of the matter
Mineral supplement formulation to meet cattle requirements is vitally important. In addition to that, proper mineral nutrition management hinges on appropriate mineral supplement consumption. If cattle do not appropriately consume mineral supplements, it doesn’t matter how well it’s formulated. Palatability matters. Proper mineral nutrition hinges on cattle actually consuming well-balanced mineral supplements.
Preparation
Be prepared because there are certainly going to be mineral consumption issues along the way. Preparation starts with a clear understanding of what affects mineral supplement consumption. The feed tag may say the cattle should eat 4 ounces per head per day, but they may not each eat that much. In fact, the cattle probably will likely not consume what the bag says. There will be intake variability. It is up to the cattle managers to control the mineral intake variability over time.
Why isn’t mineral supplement intake more accurate and precise?
Food for thought:
- What is the purpose of a cow? Cows convert grass and fiber to meat or milk.
- What makes cows different from people? Cows utilize grass and fiber to meet requirements.
- Consequently, what are cattle good at? Cows select the highest-quality diet from grass.
- What are cows not good at? Cows are not good at understanding they have a slight mineral deficiency, and therefore don’t realize they are not eating the proper amount the feed tag says they should be.
As managers, we must manage various other things related to mineral supplement intake to get appropriate mineral consumption by cattle.
What factors can be managed?
Macronutrient management
Make sure energy and protein requirements of cattle are met, or you will never get a handle on mineral supplement intake. If cattle are energy-deficient and “hungry,” mineral overconsumption is almost inevitable. It’s very hard to control mineral intake if cows aren’t satiated from an energy standpoint.
Macromineral management
Phosphorus is critical for optimal performance in a cow herd. Reproduction, growth and health can suffer with inadequate phosphorus in the diet. It is also important to understand that sources of phosphorus are very unpalatable. Too much phosphorus in a mineral supplement can reduce mineral supplement intake below recommended levels. For years, phosphorus levels in mineral supplements hovered around 12%. Over time, mineral formulations have lowered phosphorus levels to gain higher and more consistent mineral consumption. More phosphorus consumption can be achieved with a lower phosphorus concentration.
Supplement location relative to water location
Ensuring mineral supplements are closer or farther away from water has made a significant difference in mineral consumption. Most mineral formulas have a considerable amount of salt. Salt intake is directly related to water intake. If you need higher mineral consumption, move your mineral feeders closer to quality water. Vice versa, if you need to slow consumption down, move the mineral feeders farther from water. But not too far; don’t ask cows to do something that doesn’t make any sense. Moving your mineral feeders too far away from water or loafing areas will ultimately kill your mineral intake.
Trace mineral source
The primary reason for using an improved source of copper, manganese and zinc is to improve a production parameter, such as reproduction. The improved bioavailability of these trace minerals is important. Equally important is the palatability and stability of these trace minerals. Mineral supplement programs cannot improve reproduction if the cattle do not consume the mineral supplement appropriately. Furthermore, the mineral supplement must maintain its nutritional integrity over time regardless of environmental conditions. Several studies from the University of Florida have demonstrated that cattle prefer supplements with more palatable formulations over supplements that use sulfate forms of copper, zinc and manganese (Figure 1). Furthermore, mineral supplements that utilize sulfate sources of trace minerals have greater leaching of copper, zinc and manganese during rainfall events (Figure 2).
Do you have enough mineral feeders/feeder space?
The answer to this question depends on:
- Size and age of cattle
- Pasture size
- Mineral feeder type and size
- Water options and location
- Shaded area options
- Age variance of cattle in pasture
- Ease of pasture access
All these things and more determine how many mineral feeders and/or tubs a pasture should have in it. A manager must spend time with his or her cattle to understand their behavior and make a good decision here. Not one management technique fits all. Know your cattle’s behavior and make informed decisions.
Ultimately, mineral supplementation success heavily depends on the cattle manager’s strategy. All these suggested management tools can allow for the properly formulated mineral supplement to have a positive effect on animal production. If you need mineral management strategy suggestions, contact your consulting nutritionist.
References omitted but are available from the author upon request. Click here to email an editor.
