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Effect of Supplemental Trace Minerals From Injection on Health and Performance o

Effect of Supplemental Trace Minerals From Injection on Health and Performance of Highly Stressed, Newly Received Beef Heifers Source: (Richeson and Kegley, University of Arkansas)
The Professional Animal Scientist 27 (2011): 461-466
Injectable trace minerals administered on arrival to highly stressed beef calves may improve health and performance during the critical receiving period. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 90; initial body weight = 439 lb) were obtained from auction markets and assigned randomly to one of three treatments: 1) s.c. injection of trace mineral solution containing Zn (20 mg/mL), Mn (20 mg/mL), Cu (10 mg/mL), and Se (5 mg/mL) (TM1; 1 mL/45.5 kg); 2) s.c. injection of trace mineral solution containing Zn (48 mg/mL), Mn (10 mg/mL), Cu (16 mg/mL), and Se (5 mg/mL) (TM2; 1 mL/45.5 kg); or 3) negative control. Calves were offered ad libitum access to a common diet and were evaluated daily for clinical signs of bovine respiratory disease.
Overall average daily gain was greater for calves receiving either trace mineral injection compared with controls; however, average daily gain did not differ between the two mineral treatments.
Total dry matter intake was greater for TM1 and TM2 than for control.
Total gain:feed was also improved for the two trace mineral treatments. Calves receiving TM1 and TM2 gained 0.18 and 0.19 lb, respectively, per pound of feed consumed; control gained 0.16 lb per pound of feed consumed.
Calves administered TM1 had reduced bovine respiratory disease morbidity rates compared with control, with TM2 being intermediate.
Antibiotic treatment cost was greater for control than for TM1 or TM2.
Administration of a trace mineral injection during initial processing of highly stressed, newly received heifers improved ADG, feed efficiency, bovine respiratory disease morbidity and antibiotic treatment cost.