The Effect of Four Trace Mineral Elements on Gain and Health of Newly Arrived Calves1,2

The Professional Animal Scientist 12:50-55

be Effect of Four Trace Mineral Elements on Gain and Health of Newly Arrived Calves1,2 F. K. BRAZLE, PAS and G. STOKKA Extension Service, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66720-2498

Severe and acute stress has been of pulls during the first 28 d. Medicashown to be immunosuppressive (9). tion days were greater in the first 2 wk The importance of trace elements in for pulled animals receiving Fourplex® Three studies were conducted to look at the effects of four trace mineral (p<0.12). By wk 4, calves fed Fourplex® the nutrition of cattle has been elements on gain and health of lightrequired fewer (p<0.05) medication days established (10, 11). Copper, zinc, and manganese are essential for than control calves. The data suggest a weight, long-hauled (24 h on truck) calves. In trial 1, copper sulfate (982 delayed health response to trace minerals microbial phagocytosis, and copper mg), zinc oxide (833 mg), and vitamin E and better response to minerals at the 3x deficiencies have been shown to impair humoral responses (16) . Dry level in the feed than in a one-time (400 IU) applied in a drench at arrival matter intakes are compromised in resulted in a trend toward reducing the drench of healthy calves at arrival. receiving cattle (8), and metabolic number of pulls (calves removed from Drenching sick calves at the 3x level demands may not be met from diet appeared to be detrimental to their pen and doctored for sickness) through sources in stress or diseased situa29 to 56 d. A copper sulfate, zinc oxide, health. tions. The result is an increase in and vitamin E drench had no effect on gain through 56 d. In trial 2, daily (Key Words: Copper, Zinc, Vitamin E, tissue catabolism (13) and increased mineral losses (14). In these stressful gains; percentage pulls, and medications Fourplex®, Trace Minerals.) situations, the supply of essential per animal did not differ (P<0.1O) protein, vitamins, and minerals must between control calves and those fed be provided in a chemical form or at Fourplex®. Fourplex® is a trace mineral high enough concentrations that supplement containing copper lysine, enables maximum absorption and Feeder calves encounter physiozinc methionine, manganese methionine, utilization. The superior absorption and cobalt. Calves drenched with logical and psychological stresses Fourplex® in the sick pens required more during movement from one producof organiC elemental complexes over ionic elemental forms in the gas(p<0.05) medications than the tion point to another. Factors that undrenched calves. In trial 3, Fourplex® can cause stress to calves during trointestinal tract of calves has been documented (IS, 18). Recently, the in the feed did not improve ADG or feed movement to feedyard include feed advantages of increasing the trace intake, or reduce mortality or the number and water deprivation, weaning,

Abstract

Introduction

inclement weather, trauma, handling, infectious agents, and transport (19). 1 Contribution No. 96-51-E from the Kansas Individual stressors include weaning, Agricultural Experiment Station . assembly, loading and unloading, 2Appreciation is expressed to Zinpro Corp., length of transport, removal from Edina, MN for partial fund ing and to familiar conditions, mixing with Richard Porter, Reading, KS, for supplying and unfamiliar animals, crowding, the cattle. fluctuating temperatures (5) and have Reviewed by A. L. Brundage and C. E. been reported to be additive (3) . Coppock.

mineral content of the diet and providing these trace minerals in a highly bioavailable form has been investigated during periods of stress in cattle (I, 2). Researchers have reported that the recovery from trace mineral loss during transportation of cattle is partly dependent on the diet fed before and after the deprivation

Trace Minerals and Calf Health

period (8). The objective of these studies was to determine the effects of four trace mineral elements and their source on the gain and health of newly arrived, highly stressed, light-weight calves.

Materials and Methods Trial 1. One hundred fifty-four mixed-breed bull calves shipped (24 h shipment time) from Georgia to Kansas were allotted randomly to receive 40 mL of either a water (control) or a copper-zinc (Cu-Zn) drench treatment containing 250 mg Cu from copper sulfate, 650 mg Zn from zinc oxide, and 400 IU of vitamin E. Calves were rested for 24 h, then processed the following day. At the time of processing, calves were drenched, surgically castrated, and vaccinated with modified live IBR, BVD, Ply 7-way blackleg, and Presponse®. Calves were mass medicated at arrival with tilmicosin phosphate (300 mg/mL) at 4.5 mL per head. Additionally, the calves were dewormed with ivermectin and implanted with zeranol (36 mg) on d 28. The calves were fed a basic starter diet (16% crude protein milled ration) plus native grass hay to appetite and were housed in eight pens (24.4 x 61 m) throughout the 56-d receiving trial. The drinking water was from a rural water district (safe for human consumption) from the Neosho River. Trial 2. One hundred fifty-nine mixed-breed bull calves shipped (24 h shipment time) from Georgia to Kansas were allotted randomly to one of two treatments: 1) a control soybean meal supplement or 2) a soybean meal supplement containing 6.7% Fourplex® to provide three times the NRC (12) minimum daily requirement for Cu, Zn, Mn, and Co. Fourplex® is a trace mineral supplement containing Zinc Methionine Complex (zinc 2.53%), Manganese Methionine Complex (manganese 1.4%), Copper Lysine Complex (copper 0.88%), and Cobalt Glucoheptonate (cobalt 0.18%). Supplements were fed at a rate of

51

(2.8% manganese), Copper Lysine Complex (1.76% copper), and Cobalt Glucoheptonate (0.36% cobalt)]. The control calves removed from pen were not drenched with water. Therefore, the comparison is a four Items Percentage trace mineral elements drench or nothing on sick calves. However, all Wheat midds 636.25 sick calves were medicated at the Cottonseed hulls 136.30 time of drenching, which required all Molasses, liquid 90.90 sick calves (drenched and Rumensin, 60 g 0.45 undrenched) to go through the Limestone 34.10 chute. Fourplex C® was used in the 10.90 Salt, white formulation of a drench because of 15.50 Crude protein, % its higher concentration of the four 8.90 Moisture, % trace minerals. This drench was NEm mcal/kgb 0.38 made by adding 21 g Fourplex C® to NEg; mcal/kgb 0.23 100 mL of water and straining Calcium, % 1.71 through cheesecloth to remove the Phosphorus, % 0.87 sediment, so the material would flow Potassium, % 1.08 through a drench gun. The material 18.70 ADF, % was difficult to move through the 9.90 Copper, ppm drench guns. A sick pen was pro63.30 Zinc, ppm 114.00 Manganese, ppm vided for each treatment group; Cobalt, ppm 1.60 therefore, the calves remained on the 103.00 Iron, ppm original feed treatments while in the sick pen. alngredient composition is on an asTrial 3. One hundred sixty-eight fed basis. Nutrient content is on a mixed-breed bull calves were shipped dry matter basis. (24 h shipment time) from Georgia bCalculated using NRC (12). to Kansas and allotted randomly to '-----_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _----' the same feed treatments as trial 2 with four pens per treatment. Processing treatments, handling proce0.45 kg per head initially each day followed by a basal starter ration plus dures, rations, pen size, and duration were the same as described for trial 2. native grass hay fed to appetite (Tables 1 and 2). Calves were housed However, in this trial, every other in eight pens (24.3 x 61 m) throughout the 28-d study. The drinking water was from a rural water district TABLE 2. Nutrient content of (safe for human consumption) from native grass hay. the Neosho River. Calves were vaccinated at arrival Concentration Items with modified-live IBR and BVD, Ply 7-way blackleg, and Presponse®. Crude protein, % 5.20 Additionally, calves were dewormed 11.30 Moisture, % with levamisole, deloused with 0.98 Ne m, mcal/kg fenthion, implanted with zeranol (36 0.42 Neg, mcal/kg mg), mass medicated at arrival with 0.41 Calcium, % (4.5 mL per head) tilmicosin phos0.12 Phosphorus, % phate (300 mg/mL), and castrated via 1.03 Potassium, % 26.80 ADF, % banding. Every other calf removed 6.50 Copper, ppm from pen for sickness, regardless of 32.30 Zinc, ppm treatment, was drenched with 100 Manganese, ppm 112.00 mL of Fourplex C® (Table 4) [Zinc 0.13 Cobalt, ppm Methionine Complex (5.06% zinc), Iron, ppm 127.00 Manganese Methionine Complex TABLE 1. Ingredient composition and nutrient content of a basal starting ration fed to receiving calves in trials 2 and 3a .

52

Brazle and Stokka

gains through 56 d (Table 5), although the Cu-Zn drench group tended to (P>0.1O) gain slower during the first 28 d. Incidences of pulls Items Concentration during the first 28 d did not differ (P>0.10) between treatments. The -(mg/L)Cu-Zn group tended to have fewer Mineral Trial 2 Trial 3 Calcium 70.000 sick calves from d 29 to 56 than the Phosphorus 0.017 control group and showed a trend Potassium 4.560 (ppm) toward fewer days required for Zinc 0.029 medication of pulled calves. Sample 1 Copper 0.012 Copper 4100 175 Trial 2. Daily gain, percent pulls, Manganese 0.077 Zinc 2250 2630 medications per animal, and feed Cobalt none detected Manganese 12,300 1880 Iron 0.048 intake did not differ (P>0.1O) beCobalt 610 216 t,Aleen control calves and those fed Fourplex® (Table 6). However, the aMethods of analyses per title 40, CFR, Sample 2 percentage pulled appeared (P>0.1O) part 136, 7-1-90 or EPA sw-846, 3rd Copper 423 3980 edition, 1986. to be higher from calves fed Zinc 1620 2820 Fourplex®. Drenched calves in the Manganese 1110 14,000 sick pens required more (P<0.05) Cobalt 134 653 sick calf from each pen was drenched medications than the undrenched with 100 mL of a solution made with calves, regardless of whether or not 5.4 g Zinpro® 200, 3.75 g of Cuplex Fourplex® was included in the feed experiment unit, with the exception 100®, 3.75 g of Manpro 160®, and of the within-treatment drench data, (Table 7). This suggests that the 0.94 g of Copro® PD mixed with 100 for which the individual animal was calves were over-supplemented with mL of water (Table 4). A sick pen was used as the experimental unit in a 2 x trace mineral or that the trace minprovided for each treatment group. 2 factorial treatment arrangement to erallevel was so high that it interRumen fluid was collected (via a determine effects of diet, drench, and fered with normal rumina I function . stomach tube) from two calves per diet x drench. However, if that were the case, the pen on d I, 14, and 28. In addition, ADG and total feed intake should rumen fluid was collected from the have differed between treatments. first two calves that became sick from Considering the starting weight of each pen. Rumen fluid was collected the calves of 114 to 118 kg, a differTrial 1. The Cu-Zn drench at again when they were removed from arrival did not affect (P>0.10) weight ent dosage may be required than that the sick pen. The rumen fluid was frozen and later analyzed for copper, zinc, manganese, and cobalt. In all trials, calves were removed TABLE 5. The effect of a copper sulfate and zinc oxide drench on health from pen and medicated when they and gain of newly arrived calves, trial 1. showed visual signs of sickness. Control Cu-Zn Drench SE Similar antibiotic treatment strategies Item were used on sick calves regardless of feed or drench treatments. The feed No. calves 77 77 Starting wt., kg 134 134 3.06 allotted to the two sick pens was prorated by number of animals each Gain, Ibid day back to the original pen. 1 to 14 d 0.62 0.63 0.091 A water sample of the rural water 15 to 28 d 0.50 0.126 0.61 was collected out of each automatic 1 to 28 d 0.57 0.62 0.063 waterer. The analysis was conducted 29 to 56 d 0.90 0.094 0.86 by Peterson Laboratories, 1 to 56 d 0.74 0.052 0.73 Hutchinson, KS (Table 3). Data were analyzed using the GLM procedures Health Sickness, %, 1 to 28 d of SAS® (17) and results are reported 31.6 28.7 Sickness, %, 29 to 56 d 21.1 29.3 as least squares means. Data exMedication d/animal, 1 to 28 d 8.98 7.08 10.353 pressed as percentages were analyzed Medication days/animal, 29 to 56 d 7.16 10.751 5.48 using SAS® (17) chi-square procedure. Data were analyzed using pen as the TABLE 3. Mineral content of rural watera .

I

TABLE 4. Mineral content of drenches given to sick calves receiving a control diet or one containing Fourplex® mineral package in trials 2 and 3.

Results and Discussion

Trace Minerals and Calf Health

TABLE 6. The effect of Fourplex® in starter diets for long-hauled calves,

trial 2. Items

Control

No. cattle Starting weight, kg ADG, kg (28 d) Sickness %, 28 d Medication/animal Feed (28 d)/d Milled ration, kg Prairie hay, kg Total feed/kg

Fourplex®

79 115 0.68 38.0 6.48

80 118 0.64 42.5 6.91

1.96 1.34 3.31

1.99 1.28 3.28

SE

3.84 0.028 1.391 0.104 0.042 0.093

TABLE 7. Trial 2. Control

Fourplex® in Feed

Item

Drench

None

Drench

None

SE

No. Cattle ADG, kg/d Medication/d/animal

15 0.51 10.63 b

15 0.56 5.60 a

18 0.47 10.14b

16 0.53 4.94 a

0.134 0.856

a,bMeans in the same row with unlike superscripts are different (P<0 .05).

TABLE 8. The effect of Fourplex® in the feed on gain and health of calves, trial 3. Item

No. calves Starting wt., kg ADG, kg (28 d) Milled ration intake/kg/d Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Hay, kg/d Mortality, % Morbidity, % Medication days/animal Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4

Control

Fourplex

SE

84 116 0.49

84 112 0.52

2.02 0.03

1.l3 1.93 2.11 3.22

1.02 1.89 2.42 3.45

0.155 0.020 0.120 0.090

1.28 3.5 63.4

1.27 5.8 72.0

0.014

4.07 a 3.05 a 4.93 6.16d

4.58 b 3.92b 5.31 4.12c

0.l35 0.309 0.52 3 0.372

a,bMeans in the same row with unlike superscri pts are different (P<0.12). c,dMeans in the same row with unlike superscripts are different (P<0.05).

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for calves weighing 182 to 273 kg. The first calf that was pulled (removed from pen) from each pen was drenched, and the second calf was the control. It is possible that the first pulled calves were sicker than the second pulled, or the physical effect of drenching may have been stressful enough to increase time required for recovery. The practice of drenching sick calves at the time of treatment with trace minerals was detrimental in this study compared to doing nothing. Trial 3. Fourplex® in the feed did not improve ADG, feed intake, or reduce mortality or morbidity during the 28 d (Table 8). Medication days required for sick animals tended (P<0.12) to be higher for the Fourplex® groups in the first 2 wk. However, during the 4th wk, Fourplex®-fed calves required fewer (P0.1O) to increase medication days regardless of the feeding system (Table 10). However, at the 4th wk, the drenched calves had higher (P<0.08) medication days per animal than the control within each treatment. This suggests that drenching sick calves with high doses of trace minerals on the 1st d in the sick pen does not improve response to drugs. In conclusion, this study agrees with results of other researchers (4, 6,

54

Brazle and Stokka

2. Chirase, N. K., D. P. Hutcheson, G. B. Thompson, and]. W. Spears. 1994. Recovery rate and plasma zinc and copper concentration of steer calves fed organic and inorganic zinc and manganese sources with or without injectable copper and challenged with infectious bovine rhino tracheitis virus. J. Anim. Sci. 72:212.

TABLE 9. The effect of Fourplex® on ruminal mineral levels, trial 3. Ruminal levels

Control

Fourplex®

SE

Copper, ppm Day 1 Day 14 Day 28

0.07 O.07a O.lO a

0.14 0.31 b 0.21 b

0.053 0.031 0.015

Zinc, ppm Day 1 Day 14 Day 28

0.13 0.16 a 0.25

0.25 0.52b 0.39

0.096 0.082 0.052

Manganese, ppm Day 1 Day 14 Day 28

1.63 1.58 a 1.30 a

1.05 4.15 b 4.44 b

0.503 0.374 0.591

Cobalt, ppm Day 1 Day 14 Day 28

0.02 0.02 a 0.03 a

0 .02 0.27 b O.lOb

0.013 0 .045 0 .022

a,bMeans in the same row with unlike superscripts are different (P<0.05).

TABLE 10. The effect of a copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt drench on medication required per calf, trial 3. Fourplex® in feed

Control

Item

Drench

None

Drench

None

Medication d/animal

32

28

32

22

Week Week Week Week

1 2 3 4

4.62 4.17 5.12 4.96 b

4.53 3.65 5.43 3.35 a

4.10 3.31 5.21 6.99 c

4.02 2.75 4.71 5.11 b

SE

0.267 0.462 0.624 0.701

a,b,CMeans in the same row with unlike superscripts are different (P<0 .08).

7) in suggesting that a lag period exists before organic elemental complex forms will be metabolized and improve cell-mediated immunity. This study also suggests that drenching healthy calves with trace minerals at arrival may be beneficial to the immune system, but waiting to drench sick calves as they arrive at the sick pen may be detrimental.

3. Cole, N. A. 1993. Nutritional management of stressed and morbid calves. In Current Veterinary Therapy 3 - Food Animal Practice. J. Howard, (Ed.). p 27. W. B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA. 4. Engle, T. E., C. F. Nockels, C. V. Kimberling, R. E. Toombs, K. L. Hossner, R. S. Yemm, and D. L. Weaber. 1995. Determining biochemical changes during early onset of zinc deficiency in calves. CSU Beef Program Report, p 49. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. S. Fraser, A. F. 1979. The welfare of calves during transport and handling. Appl. Anim. Ethol. S:89. 6. George, M. H., C. F. Nockels, T. L. Stanton, R. G. Mortimer and B. Johnson. 1995. Effect of source and concentration of zinc, copper, manganese and cobalt fed to stressed heifers on feedlot performance and immune function. CSU Beef Program Report, p SS . Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 7. George, M. H., T. L. Stanton, C. F. Nockels, R. G. Mortimer, and B. Johnson. 1995. The effect of trace element source and crude protein concentration in background diets, and trace element source fed following transport-stress on feedlot performance and immune function in calves. CSU Beef Program Report, p. 67. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 8. Hutcheson, D. P. and N. A. Cole. 1986. Management of transit-stress syndrome in cattle: nutritional and environmental effects. J. Anim. Sci. 62:S5S. 9. Kelly, K. W. 1980. Stress and immune function: A bibliographic review. Anim. Rech. Vet. 11:445. 10. McDowell, L. R. 1992. Minerals in animal and human nutrition. Academic Press, Inc. New York. 11. Mertz, W. 1986. In Trace Elements in Human and Animal Nutrition. (Sth Ed.) . Vol. 1. Academic Press, Inc. New York. 12. National Research Council. 1984. Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. (6th Rev. Ed.). National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

literature Cited

13. Orr, c., D. P. Hutcheson, J. M. Cummins, and G. B. Thompson. 1988. Nitrogen kinetics of infectious bovine rhino tracheitis stressed calves. ]. Anim. Sci. 66:1982.

14. Orr, C. L., D. P. Hutcheson, R. B. Grainger,

J. M. Cummins, and R. E. Mock. 1990. Serum l. Chirase, N. K., D. P. Hutcheson, and G. B. Thompson . 1991. Bioavailability of zinc methionine for chicks. Poultry Sci. 70:1637.

copper, zinc, calcium and phosphorus concentrations of calves stressed by bovine respiratory disease and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis. J. Anim. Sci. 68 :2893.

Trace Minerals and Calf Health

15. Pimental,] . 1., R. E. Cook, and]. 1. Greger. 1991. Bioavailability of zinc methionine for chicks. Poultry Sci. 70: 1637.

cal properties of mouse lymphoid tissue. ] . Nutr. 1l3:1563.

17. SAS. 1983. SAS® User's Guide. Statistics. SAS Inst., Inc. Cary, NC. 16. Prohaska,]. R., S. W. Downing, and O. A. Lakasewycz. 1983. Chronic dietary copper deficiency alters biochemical and morphologi- 18. Spears,]. W. 1989. Zinc methionine for ruminants: relative bioavailability of zinc in

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lambs and effects of growth and performance of growing heifers. ] . Anim. Sci. 67:835 . 19. Trunkfield, H. R., and D. M. Broom. 1990. The welfare of calves during transport and handling. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 28:l35 .