Trace Minerals

The role of trace minerals in embryo transfer pregnancies

louderdvm@gmail.com — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Open. It is a word no veterinarian enjoys saying during the herd check. While researchers continue to look for ways to improve the outcomes of live births, improving the trace mineral status of the cow may be a promising way to reduce hearing that dreaded word: open.

Rethinking chromium: From transition tool to full-lactation asset for dairy cows

rbrown@chemlocknutrition.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Chromium has become a useful addition to transition diets. Supplementing with 6 to 8 milligrams per cow daily has been shown to significantly boost dry matter intake, energy efficiency and cow resilience. New data shows that these benefits go beyond fresh cows, supporting chromium supplementation throughout the entire lactation.

Immunity: More than a vaccine

louderdvm@gmail.com — Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While vaccines contribute greatly to a cow’s immune system, there are other aspects of the immune system that should not be forgotten. Ensuring that essential elements such as trace minerals are provided, allows for the cow’s entire immune system to be ready to fight off an invasion, not just relying on the special forces.

Trace minerals boost immune function, reduce mastitis

louderdvm@gmail.com — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

At freshening, with milk production and the risk of mastitis, the cow finds herself with the lowest levels of trace minerals to support her immune system. Even with properly balanced trace minerals going into the ration, the cow is unable to absorb them quickly enough to return her mineral stores to the levels needed to support immune function in her system and in the udder.

Five things to keep in mind when evaluating premixes

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

For many dairies, use of premixes is nothing new and they have been used in some fashion since dairying began. In many cases, however, because the practice is so common, we may tend to forget these are tools in our feeding programs that need to be reevaluated from time to time.

Liver biopsies: A cow’s mineral gauge

louderdvm@gmail.com — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 12:07:38 -0400

Unfortunately, cows don’t have a dashboard with gauges to tell us which minerals they are low on. Minerals may be considered when things aren’t going well, but how do we know if minerals aren’t adequate? Liver biopsies allow us to check the actual status of the cow without assuming they are OK simply because minerals were offered in the feed. In that sense, liver biopsies are the gauge to tell us how the cow is doing.

Simplifying the feeding program: Steps toward improved efficiency

sblez@verizon.net — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A few months ago, I received a call from a dairyman who was having issues with his somatic cell count (SCC). He asked me to look over his feeding program and see if I saw anything that they might be overlooking or that stood out as a problem that might affect somatic cell, mastitis levels, etc.

The perfect marriage: Oral plus injectable trace minerals

ggengelbach@axiota.com — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The transition period is a period of high stress and is generally accompanied by an increased demand for trace minerals for fetal growth, colostrum/milk production and to support a challenged immune system.

Are all your bases covered? Delivering key ingredient options

gzimmerman@pdscows.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Some dairies across the country are using larger inclusion mixes due to lack of feed storage options. Still in other cases, some feed companies are proposing larger inclusion grain mixes to their customers.

[Podcast] Importance of mineral supplementation for dairy heifers

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy replacement heifers are an extremely valuable component of a dairy operation. Not only are they the future of the lactating herd, but they determine your long-term profitability. That’s why providing them with adequate and consistent vitamin and trace mineral nutrition is important to help support optimal growth, health, immunity, reproduction and hoof integrity.

A complete nutrition program to prevent hoof problems

jweyers@zinpro.com — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Digital dermatitis, an infectious hoof disease, and non-infectious hoof challenges, like white-line disease, thin soles and sole ulcers, are common occurrences across dairies that often go undetected until it is too late.

Managing the transition period for maximum success

eribeiro@uoguelph.ca — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 13:45:46 -0400

The impacts of management during the transition period can make or break future lactations and overall herd health, putting at risk investments in genetics, farm profitability and welfare.

What is a trace mineral and why does a cow need it?

louderdvm@gmail.com — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

A close examination of the feed ration reveals that the garden salad-looking bovine meal may contain corn silage, hay and flaked corn.

Transition success with injectable trace minerals

louderdvm@gmail.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 17:15:40 -0500

Recognizing the fluctuation of trace mineral availability at calving allows producers to supplement cows in a way that avoids antagonism and low absorption.

Managing nutrient absorption: Dealing with poor absorption, antagonisms

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:46:36 -0500

Millions of cows around the world consume diets that have been formulated as optimally as possible.

Four hurdles of trace mineral nutrition in the close-up dry cow

louderdvm@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 18:26:45 -0400

FWe are all familiar with mineral imbalances in dairy cows; the recently freshened cow that can’t stand up and has her head turned into her side with cold ears. When this situation is encountered, we immediately recognize the condition as milk fever or hypocalcemia.

What the revised trace mineral recommendations mean for hoof health

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 19:52:00 -0400

Earlier this year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), previously known as the National Research Council (NRC), released new guidelines around nutritional requirements of dairy cattle.

A practical understanding of trace mineral sources

sblez@verizon.net — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 23:22:44 -0400

Most producers understand that minerals must be supplemented to cattle at all stages of production if they want optimal performance, especially in health and reproduction.

Assessing your trace mineral program

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 15:59:51 -0500

Trace minerals are one of the smallest components in a cow’s diet, but they are essential nutrients for animal health and productivity.

Sulfate trace minerals: More harm than good, especially on fiber digestibility

michael.miller@trouwnutrition.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 14:00:01 -0500

In the last few months, the dairy industry has seen significant swings in farmgate milk prices due to COVID-19 disrupting markets. A highly variable milk price puts tremendous pressure on maximizing income over feed cost (IOFC).

Trace mineral source: Form equals function

agehman@alltech.com — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 14:00:01 -0500

Just tossing any trace mineral pack into a dairy ration is no longer adequate to support high-producing dairy cows.

Why water quality matters right now

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:18:55 -0500

Dr. Adam Geiger, research nutritionist for dairy and colostrum with Zinpro, tells Progressive Dairy why the current season and environmental conditions make it imperative for dairies to test water sources. He also explains how to do it.

Organic trace mineral nutrition: Success across all stages of life

jon.pretz@hubbardfeeds.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 14:00:01 -0500

The trace mineral requirements of dairy animals is a topic that continues to receive a great deal of attention, and rightfully so. Although trace minerals comprise less than 0.01 percent of the total mass of an organism, they are essential for normal function.