DAIRYING IN KWAZULU-NATAL Mineral & Vitamin Nutrition Of Dairy Cattle

Twenty-one minerals are considered to be nutritionally essential, or probably essential, to the animal. Depending on the quantities required by the animal, they can be grouped into major minerals and trace (minor) elements. Of the major minerals the most important are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, potassium, sulphur and magnesium. The important trace elements are copper, cobalt, iron, iodine, zinc, manganese and selenium. Most of the major minerals and trace elements are widely distributed in the herbage and the other feeds eaten by the animal, and occur in sufficient quantities to meet animal requirements. Balanced commercial feeds usually contain sufficient minerals to meet the needs of dairy cows under normal conditions.