This document discusses trace minerals that are important for cattle reproduction and health. It begins by introducing trace minerals like copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, iodine, cobalt, and iron. It then discusses the role of each mineral in cattle metabolism, health, and reproduction. For each mineral, it provides information on dietary requirements, potential deficiencies, and importance. It also includes tables listing mineral content in various feed ingredients and calculating total mineral intake from a sample diet. The document aims to educate on the importance of adequate trace mineral nutrition for cattle.

1. The Trace Minerals
By- Dr Harshal Rewatkar
Product executive
Hester Biosciences

2. 2
The Trace
Minerals
Cu
Zn
Mn
Se
I
Co
Fe
Cr
By- DrHarshal

3. 
Introduction
Reproduction is the most important production parameter in
attaining profitability in a commercial cattle dairy farm.
Adequate mineral intake & absorption is required for a variety
of metabolic functions including immune response to pathogenic
challenge, reproduction & growth.
Subclinical or marginal deficiencies may be a larger problem
than acute mineral deficiency in livestock
3

4. Role of Trace Minerals for Growth, Health and
Reproduction.
Mineral
Zinc
Copper
Manganese
Iron
Enzyme cofactor
hormones,
vitamin, Mettalo-
enzymes
Carbohydrate, Protein,
fat, metabolism,
Epithelial integrity,
Reproduction, Immune
response, Oxygen
transport, Cell
proliferation, Bone
development, Cell
protection, Haemoglobin
formation
4
Triggering Essential for
Decreased reproductive
performance, problems
of Hoof & udder. Slow
healing of wound.
Hair, skin, feathering
problems
Deficiency

5. Effects of Decline in Mineral Status on
Animal Performance
5
Time
Mineral
status
Winske et al.1990

6. Consequences of mineral imbalance
6
Hormonal
imbalance
Enzyme
imbalance

7. Minerals related to Reproduction
ZINC
COPPER
SELENIUM
MANGNESE
IODINE
FEROUS
COBALT
7

8. Why to use Glycine Chelated Minerals
Chelating agents, are the
ligand… the basic
substances having ability
to “hold” (chemical bond
between atoms) a
mineral farming chelate
“ring” structure.
These are the three basic
points for why, to use
Glycine chelation.
1) the ligand size ratio
protects the mineral as it
passes through the
stomach’s digestive
process
2) the combined
molecule is less than 500
Daltons in size, which is
small enough to be
absorbed by protein
receptors in the intestinal
tract intact. The mineral
and ligand are then
separated by metabolic
processes and used by
the body
3) the molecule is
neutral in charge,
keeping it from
interacting with food and
drug content during
digestion
8

9. Cobalt in cows
Cobalt levels- in
typical feedlot
diets composed
of corn, milo
and wheat are
.08, .19 and .15
(ppm).
the maize diet
at 0.08 ppm is
deficient by
.02 ppm and
must have
cobalt
supplemented
Compared
with a 0.1
ppm
requireme
nt
9

10. Cobalt deficiency
10
Decreased appetite
Ruminal dysfunction
Propionate production
in the rumen
Mortality of offspring
shortly after birth
Fiber digestion by
bacteria
Infertility

11. Copper in cows
Dietary
copper is
tolerated by
cattle at
levels up to
about 115
ppm
Cu treatment is
reported to improve
conception rate
(Hunter et.al,2000)
The new
values are
more similar
to NRC dairy
requirements
Supplementation of
copper either through
copper sulphate or
chelated copper
enhanced the activity
of SOD and CP.
(Suttle et al., 1991)
With milo-based
diets, one need not
be concerned about
copper, but with
corn-based or
wheat-based
feedlot diets, 2 to 3
ppm of copper
needs to be added.
11
Essential element
in enzymes
important in
immune
competence,
SOD and CP
SOD and CP acts as
antioxidants and
protect the cells
from free radicals
High dietary
concentration
of Mo, S and Fe
reduce Cu
status in
ruminants
Low fertility
associated with
delayed or
depressed
estrus
(Hawell et.al,
1999)

12. Cu
Pigmentati
on &
keratinizati
on of hair
& wool
Metalloenzy
me
Cytochrome
oxidase,Lysyl
oxidase,
SOD,
Tyrosinase
CNS
Reproductio
n
Immun
e
system
Iron
metabo
lism
12

13. Copper deficiency
Pigmentation of
hair is reduced so
that red cattle
become yellow and
black cattle become
gray.
Elevated levels of
copper from copper
sulfate may act as an
antibiotic to depress
ruminal
fermentation
High levels of sulfur,
molybdenum,
calcium and zinc
each reduce
absorption of
copper and
thereby increase
its dietary
requirement.
Needed by the
immune system,
so a copper
deficiency may cause
animal health
problems.
13

14. Effect of hypocuprosis on other mineral concentrations
in the blood of buffalo-cows (μg /dl)
Ahmed et al.,2009

15. Iodine in cows
Certain plants contain goitrogens that inhibit
the use of iodine and increase its
requirement.
The estimated iodine requirement for
growing cattle is .5 ppm with a tolerance of
8 to 50 ppm.
Corn-, milo- or wheat-based feedlot diets
contain very little iodine and they all need
iodine supplementation.
15
1
2
3

16. Iodine deficiency
An iodine deficiency in cows
decreases metabolic rate and
causes goiter.
Requirements for iodine vary with
cattle breed and age of animals.
A commonly used source of iodine in
feeds is ethylenediamine
dihydroiodine (EDDI).
Plants from low iodine soils have
low iodine concentrations.
Under cold stress, the turnover rate
of iodine increases, which may
increase the need for dietary iodine.
Some nutritionists have incorporated
EDDI into diets as a preventative or
cure for foot rot and soft tissue
lumpy jaw. However, there is no
scientific evidence substantiating the
use of EDDI for those treatments.
Goitrogenic plants cabbage family,
although goitrogens are also found
in soybean meal, cottonseed meal
and rapeseed meal.
Castrated animals may require less
iodine than do females, and females
less than intact males.
As a result, regulatory authorities
have placed a maximum use level on
the amount of EDDI that can be
included in ruminant diets.
16

17. Iron in cows
Hindered by phytic acid,
oxalic acid, high fiber,
high calcium,
polyphenols
Zinc competes with iron
for absorption
A Estimated iron
requirements for steers
have been increased by
the NRC from 10 ppm
(1976) to 50 ppm
(1984).
The iron tolerance level for
cattle is from 400 to 1,000
ppm. Iron levels in maize,
jowar and wheat feedlot
diets show that a wheat
feedlot diet should be
lowest, with a deficiency of
7 ppm
B
17

18. Iron deficiency
Lactation animals
Reduced growth Lactation yield decreases
Abomasal or intestinal parasites
Reduces rate of gain various that cause bleeding into the gut
Anemia reduces rate of gain
Shortage iron Can be detect in blood
18

19. Manganese in cows
Marginal manganese status-To reach 40 ppm in the diet, 30 ppm needs to
be added to the maize diet which is costly. Cofactor for glucogenesis.
Requirements
Range from 20 to 40 ppm and have been increased from the NRC
(1976) estimate of 10 ppm
Corn-based feedlot diets are much lower in manganese than are jowar-
and wheat-based diets
Essential for normal brain function , collagen formation , enzyme
systems, bone growth, urea formation, fatty acid & cholesterol synthesis.
(Hunt et al.,1990)
19
Mn deficiency- ano-estrous, poor follicular development, delayed ovulation,
silent oestrous & reduced conception rates. (Hurley et al., 1989)

20. Manganese deficiency
Reduce growth rate
High levels of
calcium or
phosphorus will
increase the need for
manganese
Anoestrous, poor folli
cular development,D
elayed ovulation,
silent oestrous &
reduced conception
rate
In some regions,
manganese is used
as a fertilizer to
increase plant
production, which in
turn can increase the
manganese content
of plants
1951, Bentley
and Phillips fed
dairy cows diets
containing 10 to
30 ppm
manganese; three
of the eight cows
fed 10 ppm
developed
abscessed livers.
Feeding 30 ppm
prevented this
problem
20

21. Cell structure
& function
Alteration in cell
membrane
integrity in liver,
pancreas ,kidney
and heart
Reproduction
Role in CL function
congenital defect in
young
Disturbances in estru
s.
Enzyme activity
Arginase, Pyruvate
carboxylase Mn-SOD,
Hydrolase ,Kinase
Decarboxylase, Transfer
ase
Carbohydrate
metabolism
Glucose utilization Involved
in insulin formation &
activity Biosynthesis of
Glycoprotein
(McDowell .,1996)
21

22. Function
Manganese
Necessary for cholesterol synthesis
Required for synthesis of steroid (oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone)
22

23. Selenium in cows
The amount
The diet
Antioxidant
activity-
Glutathione
peroxidase
According to the
NRC, wheat-
based diets are
reasonably high
in selenium
content, while
corn-based diets
are low, possibly
reflecting
regional soil
concentrations in
the primary
areas of
production
For growing
beef cattle
range from
0.1 to 0.2
ppm.
As the
tolerance for
selenium is
only 2 ppm,
care is needed
in selenium
supplementatio
n and in diet
mixing
FDA recently
approved
supplementati
on with 0.3
ppm
With maize-based
feedlot diets, to
provide 0.2 ppm in
the complete diet,
one must add 0.13
ppm of selenium
The facts
23

24. Selenium deficiency
Both selenium and vitamin E act as metabolic anti-oxidants.
Whenever the source of grain being fed in a diet is uncertain, it
appears wise to consider that the grain was produced in a low-
selenium region of the U.S. and to supplement accordingly
Selenium deficiency signs in cattle include white muscle
disease and stiffness
24

25. Zinc in cows
The requirement for zinc is
estimated at 30 ppm, whereas the
tolerance is 500 to 1,300 ppm
Maize- and jowar-based feedlot
diets provide 19 to 21 ppm of zinc,
while wheat is considerably richer
For Maize- and jowar-diet, some 11
ppm needs to be added.
Essential for proper sexual maturity,
reproductive capacity in males & all
reproductive events, more
specifically with onset of estrus in
female
It is essential for cell proliferation
and cell division
It is component of thymosin a
hormone produced by thymic cells
which regulate cell mediated
immunity
Its deficiency alters prostaglandin
synthesis which may affect luteal
formation
25
(Cousin et al.,2000)

26. Role of Zinc
•Carbonic anhydrase
•Alcohal
dehydrogenase
•Lactic dehydrogenase
•Superoxide dismutase
•Vitamine A ester
•Thiamidine kinase
(DNA synthesis)
•Maintainace and
repair of the uterine
epithelium and sexual
maturity,reproductive
capacity
Reproduction Growth
Mettallo-
enzymes
Vision
(Chhabra et al.,1982)

27. Zinc deficiency
Signs of zinc deficiency
include reduced feed
intake and rate of gain.
• Deficiencies cause
growth retardation
and poor sexual
development
Sign of zinc deficiency is
parakeratosis.
• Severe skin lesions
can be seen
High dietary calcium levels reduce
zinc availability and increase its
excretion. Infections also can
reduce plasma levels of zinc
• Rate of wound
healing is slowed by a
zinc deficiency and
the incidence of foot
rot has been reported
elevated by a zinc
deficiency
In females-Decreased fertility
and abnormal reproductive
events in cow (Kumar et.al;
2003)
• Reduce GnRH
secretion that
eventually leads to
the arrest of
ovulation. (Kaswan
et al.,1995)
27
Malformed fetus

28. Ajwain extract
Digestive
stimulant
Galactogogic
actions Increase
growth and
lactation yield
Long term
increase the
reproductive
traits
28
Bairwa et al., 2012

29. NRC 2001
29

30. INGREDIENT Ca P Mg K Na Cl S Co Cu I Fe Mn Se Zn Mo
STRAW 0.3 0.1 0.15 1.23 0.04 0 0.14 0.45 3.96 0 812.03 63.24 0.15 11.89 0
GRASS 0.42 0.25 0.18 0.16 0.01 0 0.12 0.36 4.23 0 571.37 62.23 0.14 23.31 0.17
MAIZE 0.02 0.35 0.12 0.42 0.02 0.08 0.1 0 1 0 59 7 0.07 21 0.7
RICE POLICE 0.07 1.58 0.42 0.81 0.01 0 0.13 0.52 10.68 0 543.7 118.46 0.28 38.26 0.47
MUSTARD
CAKE
0.4 1.2 0.55 1.22 0.09 0 0.37 0 19 0 369 39 1.05 69 2
So for Straw 6 kg, Grass 12 kg, Maize 1.6kg, Rice polish, 1.5kg and Mustard cake 1.5 kg
INGREDIENT Ca P Mg K Na Cl S Co Cu I Fe Mn Se Zn Mo
STRAW 1.8 0.6 0.9 7.38 0.24 0 0.84 2.7 25.27 0 4872.18 379.44 0.96 71.34 0
GRASS 5.04 3 2.16 1.92 0.12 0 1.44 4.32 52.11 0 6856.44 746.76 1.73 279.72 2.04
MAIZE 0.032 0.56 0.192 0.672 0.032 0.128 0.16 0 2.1 0 94.4 11.2 0.121 33.6 1.12
RICE POLICE 0.105 2.37 0.63 1.215 0.015 0 0.195 0.78 18.41 0 815.55 177.69 0.477 57.39 0.705
MUSTARD
CAKE
0.6 1.8 0.825 1.83 0.135 0 0.555 0 30.05 0 553.5 58.5 1.67 103.5 3
TOTAL
MINERAL
7.577 8.33 4.707 13.017 0.542 0.128 3.19 7.8 127.94 0 13192.0 1373.59 4.958 545.55 6.865
Normal concentration of the minerals in feedstuffs

31. Minerals required, get from feed and fulfill from our product
In Feed
Co Cu I Fe Mn Se Zn Mo
In feed 7.8 127.94 0 13192.07 1373.59 4.958 545.55 6.865
Normal trace mineral product
gms/kg
2 15 3 30 18 0.1 80
0.002 0.015 0.003 0.03 0.018 0.0001 0.08 0
Normally we give 5 kg concentrate 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
10 75 15 150 90 0.5 400 0
Trace minerals in diet 17.8 202.94 15 13342.07 1463.59 5.458 945.55 6.865
Requirement for 400 Kg Cow 2 204 12 1020 816 6 816
Total get to the animal 17.8 202.94 15 13342.07 1463.59 5.458 945.55 6.865
31