Investigation of the Impact of Mineral Status and Use of an Injectable Mineral on Beef Cattle Performance

Abstract

and Implications Adequate trace mineral status of feedlot cattle decreases losses during shipping and improves marbling score (MS). Utilizing an injectable trace mineral, at the start of the finishing period, improved average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW) and hot carcass weight (HCW). Trace mineral supplementation is important to beef cattle performance, and improves response to stress. Injectable minerals improve recovery after a stressful event, and enhance performance.

Trace mineral supplementation in feedlot cattle: implications for the inflammatory response, growth, and carcass characteristics

“…Long-term (3 h) transport of broilers increases reactive oxygen species production and malondialdehyde content in thigh muscles and changes ATP:ADP ratios, suggesting changes in muscle metabolism and increases in lipid peroxidation may occur in response to transit stress (Zhang et al, 2010). While reactive oxygen species and overall cellular metabolism were not measured in this study, greater TM stores in CON steers (Genther and Hansen, 2012) may have assisted in the response to a stressor, by potentially improving antioxidant enzyme activities, and allowing for improvements in marbling scores. Additionally, MM steers, regardless of previous depletion diet had increased activity of Mn-SOD (Genther and Hansen, 2012) and this may have improved the response to the heat experienced at the beginning of the repletion period as mentioned previously.…”

“…While reactive oxygen species and overall cellular metabolism were not measured in this study, greater TM stores in CON steers (Genther and Hansen, 2012) may have assisted in the response to a stressor, by potentially improving antioxidant enzyme activities, and allowing for improvements in marbling scores. Additionally, MM steers, regardless of previous depletion diet had increased activity of Mn-SOD (Genther and Hansen, 2012) and this may have improved the response to the heat experienced at the beginning of the repletion period as mentioned previously. Heat-stressed broilers also have increased mitochondrial superoxide production and inefficient mitochondrial energy production (Mujahid et al, 2006) that could negatively impact muscle growth and overall meat quality and it is possible that increased Mn-SOD may have allowed for improvements in muscle and fat deposition in the present study.…”

“…Trace mineral status of all steers was assessed throughout the study by analysis of liver and plasma trace mineral concentration and data are reported elsewhere (Genther and Hansen, 2012). Briefly, after 71 d consuming a TM deficient diet, liver Cu and Se concentrations in DEF steers (79.0 ± 11.60 mg Cu/kg DM and 1.66 ± 0.080 mg Se/kg DM) were lesser than CON steers (229 ± 11.6 mg Cu/kg DM and 2.41 ± 0.080 mg Se/kg DM).…”

“…The objective of this study was to determine the effect of steer TM status (adequate or mildly deficient) on the response of plasma and tissue mineral concentrations and TM biomarkers to a multi-element TM injection. While the focus of this manuscript is TM status, performance of these cattle throughout the study was evaluated and is reported elsewhere (Genther and Hansen, 2012). After 71 d consuming a diet containing 5 mg Mo and 300 mg Fe/kg DM and no supplemental Cu, DEF steers in this experiment had lower initial liver Cu than CON steers.…”