ROLE OF TRACE MINERALS IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION What Do I Need to Know About Trace Minerals for Beef and Dairy Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Goats?

The role of trace minerals in animal production is an area of strong interest for producers, feed manufactures, veterinarians and scientists. Adequate trace mineral intake and absorption is required for a variety of metabolic functions including immune response to pathogenic challenge, reproduction and growth. Mineral supplementation strategies quickly become complex because differences in trace mineral status of all livestock and avian species is critical in order to obtain optimum production in modern animal production systems. Subclinical or marginal deficiencies may be a larger problem than acute mineral deficiency because specific clinical symptoms are not evident to allow the producer to recognize the deficiency; however, animals continue to grow and reproduce but at a reduced rate. As animal trace mineral status declines immunity and enzyme functions are compromised first, followed by a reduction in maximum growth and fertility, and finally normal growth and fertility decrease prior to evidence of clinical deficiency (Figure 1; Fraker, 1983; Wikse 1992). In order to maintain animals in adequate trace mineral status, balanced intake and absorption are necessary.