Trace mineral requirements of grazing cattle

The following paper discusses the impact of four specific trace elements—copper, zinc, selenium and manganese-on production and health parameters of grazing cattle. Typically in the cattle industry the greatest impairment of marginal trace element deficiencies may be on immune function, but in cases of severe deficiencies production traits such as reproduction efficiency and other performance parameters can be impacted. It is important that the diet formulation for trace minerals consider the forage intake, the forage trace mineral content and the animalʹs requirements and then dietary levels fed to meet animal requirements just as is typically done for nutrients such as energy and protein. Although minerals and trace elements have not received the degree of attention that energy and protein have in formulating grazing cattle diets, their potential impact on productivity should not be ignored.