Effect of Trace Mineral Source on Lactation Performance, Claw Integrity, and Fertility of Dairy Cattle

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2008-05, Vol.91 (5), p.1985-1995
• Main Authors: Siciliano-Jones, J.L., Socha, M.T., Tomlinson, D.J., DeFrain, J.M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal fertility; animal performance; Animal productions; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle - physiology; Cattle Diseases - prevention & control; claw lesion; claws; Cobalt - administration & dosage; conception rate; Copper - administration & dosage; dairy cattle; dairy cows; dairy protein; dermatitis; Diet; dietary mineral supplements; dietary minerals; dietary nutrient sources; Female; Fertility - drug effects; Fertility - physiology; Food industries; Foot Diseases - prevention & control; Foot Diseases - veterinary; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hoof and Claw - physiology; lactation; Lactation - drug effects; Lactation - physiology; lesions (animal); Liver - chemistry; manganese; Manganese - administration & dosage; Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams; Pregnancy; sulfates; Terrestrial animal productions; Trace Elements - administration & dosage; Trace Elements - analysis; trace mineral; Vertebrates; zinc; Zinc - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2007-0779

Two hundred fifty multiparous and primiparous cows were assigned to a study at approximately 70 d prepartum to determine the effect of trace mineral source on lactation performance, claw integrity, and fertility. Cows received treatments from 3wk prepartum through wk 35 postpartum. Treatments consisted of 1) all supplemental Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co provided in sulfate form (Sulfate) and 2) 360mg of Zn, 200mg of Mn, 125mg of Cu, and 12mg of Co supplied daily by Sulfate minerals replaced with similar amounts of minerals supplied by Availa-4 (CTM). Individuals involved with daily animal care or data recording, or both, were blinded to treatment assignments. Cows from all treatments were housed in common pens, and treatments were dispensed to cows via a computerized feeder. All claws of cows were examined before treatment administration and at 16 and 36wk postpartum by personnel trained in identifying claw lesions. Cows fed the CTM diet tended to produce more milk and energy-corrected milk than cows fed the Sulfate diet. Cows fed the CTM diet also produced more milk protein and solids (fat + protein) than cows fed the Sulfate diet. Replacing Sulfate minerals with those supplied by CTM decreased incidence of sole ulcers at wk 36 postpartum and tended to decrease incidence of interdigital dermatitis at wk 16 and 36 postpartum. Severity of heel erosion tended to be less for cows fed CTM than cows receiving the Sulfate diet. Despite first service conception rates tending to be greater for cows fed the Sulfate diet, there was no effect of treatment on rate of conception. A greater percentage of cows fed the Sulfate diet tended to be culled from the herd before wk 36 postpartum than cows fed the CTM diet. Replacing Sulfate minerals with CTM resulted in improved lactation performance and claw integrity.