WEBINAR: Boosting Cattle Immunity - Game-changing Trace Mineral Strategies

Prof. John Arthington is Chair of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida, where he has been a faculty member since 1998. His research and extension programs focus on the nutrition and management of grazing beef cattle, with an emphasis on mineral nutrition and its impact on stress and productivity. 
 

He has published over 125 peer-reviewed papers and mentored numerous graduate students. A recognised expert in trace mineral supplementation, Prof. Arthington conducted two trials using Multimin in 2012 and 2014.

Webinar content in a nutshell:

The trace minerals an animal needs is well known, but the challenge is getting it into them. Firstly, the intake of feed may vary due to various reasons, and secondly, the absorption of these minerals may be reduced by the presence of environmental antagonists.

Trace minerals of importance to grazing animals are selenium, copper, manganese and zinc. Selenium deficiency is common among grazing animals throughout the world, with copper being recognised as the second most deficient trace mineral to grazing livestock.

Selenium deficiency is most commonly observed by the occurrence of White Muscle Disease (also known as Weak Calf Syndrome), but can also result in reduced fertility, retained placentas and immune incompetence.

Source: https://www.nadis.org.uk/disease-a-z/cattle/trace-element-deficiency-in-cattle/

Copper is essential to over 30 enzymes and most important for support of immunity and growth. Most copper deficiencies are the result of antagonists, especially molybdenum and sulphur. When these two elements are in abundance together, they act as a stronger “magnet” in the rumen to bind to any available copper, to form a molecule called thiomolybdate (MoS4), which drastically reduces the absorption of copper from the gastrointestinal tract.

The occurrence of a zinc deficiency in animals is quite common. When we talk about the function of zinc in the body, think about rapidly dividing cells. Zinc is essential for DNA and mRNA synthesis, spermatogenesis in bulls, oogenesis in cows, skin and hoof health, formation of immune cells following vaccination etc.

Manganese may be deficient if pastures are grown on alkaline soils or if diets high in grains are fed, because grains are typically low in manganese.

Calves are normally born with a good trace mineral status, which they received from the dam and from colostrum, which is then stored in the liver. However, because milk is a poor source of trace minerals, most calves are normally severely deficient in trace minerals when they reach weaning age, and this often goes unnoticed. 
 

Branum 1999¹ and Arthington² et al 2016

As we all know, weaning is quite a stressful period for calves. And from the studies above, this usually coincides with the time that they are either marginally adequate or deficient in trace minerals. 

Injectable trace minerals have shown to be a valuable tool to rapidly increase trace mineral status of animals during critical periods such as weaning - not only is feed intake low during this time, but minerals are also lost from the body due to stress.

Arthington (2014) showed that by treating calves with Multimin prior to weaning, copper and selenium liver levels were significantly increased. Keep in mind that the liver is not generally a good indicator of manganese and zinc status, due to the fact that the liver is not the main storage organ for these two minerals.

Liver trace mineral levels at weaning after injection with Multimin 
Arthington et al., 2014

Feedlot induction is another stressful event for calves and feed intake is usually low during the first couple of days. During processing, calves receive vaccinations, which depend on the body's trace mineral reserves to mount an effective immune response. Giving Multimin at the same time as vaccination, has resulted in an increase in the levels of antibody titers, as shown in numerous scientific trials across the globe. Therefore, Multimin enhances the vaccine response, helping calves develop faster protection against diseases.

In 2011, Richeson and Kegley conducted a trial with Multimin (ITM 1and ITM 2) on highly stressed, newly received beef heifers in the feedlot. The treatment of these heifers with Multimin, resulted in reduced morbidity and less antibiotics needed to treat sick animals.

Effect of Multimin on measures of morbidity in stressed, newly received beef heifers
Richeson and Kegley. 2011. Prof. Anim. Sci. 27:461-466 
 

Environmental antagonists

Prof Arthington conducted a trial in South Africa, where they looked at the impact of “acid rain” from coal-powered electricity plants, where sulphur is usually emitted into the atmosphere. Sulphur is a well-known antagonist of copper and selenium.

They collected grass samples as well as liver samples from cattle grazing either “impacted” areas - areas in close proximity to the coal plant or in the direction of the wind carrying the sulphur deposits - or from non-impacted animals, away from coal plants and outside of the wind direction.

As you can see from the table below, both selenium and copper liver levels were significantly lower in impacted cattle vs non-impacted cattle, and this is most probably due to high levels of sulphur in the environment, i.e. dust from coal plants landing on the pasture and high level of sulphur in the water.

Liver mineral concentrations of cattle grazing regions impacted by coal-powered electricity plants (mg/kg; DM basis)
Arthington et al., 2024
 

This is yet another area where Multimin can be a useful tool to overcome environmental antagonists by complementing a good oral trace mineral program, to increase trace mineral status of animals exposed to elevated levels of sulphur. Other antagonists to keep in mind are high levels of iron, which we often see in our soils, forage and water in South Africa; high levels of calcium as well as areas high in molybdenum.

Conclusion

Optimising trace mineral nutrition is critical for maintaining the health and performance of grazing beef cattle. Cows obtain trace minerals from forage, soil, water, and supplements, but these sources often fail to meet their requirements or contain antagonists that hinder absorption.

In cow/calf systems, calves rely on tissue stores at birth, milk, forage, and supplements. However, tissue trace mineral levels typically decline during the pre-weaning phase due to insufficient minerals in milk and forage. Stressors - especially weaning - further deplete trace mineral levels, increasing the risk of deficiency.

Multimin can be used as a complementary nutrition tool on the farm to overcome shortfalls that may arise from a normal feeding system. Some of the challenges include variation in feed intake due to factors such as trough space or dominance, mineral losses from the body due to stress, low feed intake during periods of stress and the presence of environmental antagonists.

Multimin ensures a known amount of trace minerals in every animal, increases antibody production at vaccination and ensures mineral adequacy during critical periods.

BOOSTING CATTLE IMMUNITY - GAMECHANGING TRACE MINERAL STRATEGIES