IMPROVING FERTILITY
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The impact of trace mineral management on semen quality of bulls in cow-calf operations for beef

The key takeaways about beef semen quality from this article

  • Cow-calf operations for bef cattle should aim at delivering one calf per cow per year
  • Semen quality of bulls used in a cow-calf opeartion for beef cattle has a great impact on reproductive performance of a beef herd
  • Cu and Zn status in breeding sires fed Selko IntelliBond trace minerals was better compared to breeding sires fed anorganic trace mineral sources.
  • Supplementation of bulls with Selko IntelliBond trace minerals improved semen quality

Improving semen quality of breeding beef bulls with Selko IntelliBond trace minerals

Fertility is an import driver of profitability of cow-calf operations. About 41% of cow-calf operations reported reproductive failure as a reason for culling beef cattle [1]. Semen quality of bulls in a cow-calf operation for beef cattle is an important driver of reproductive performance of a beef herd. Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals can improve trace mineral status of beef cattle. Trace mineral supplementation can improve bull semen quality, resulting in an improvement in AI pregnancy rates of beef cattle. The impact of trace mineral source on liver mineral status and spermatozoa characteristics of mature bulls was tested in a trial in beef cattle[2].

Figure 1: impact of different trace mineral sources on progressive motility of sperm cells and on sperm concentration of bulls in a beef cow-cattle operation.

Materials and methods

A total of 37 mature bulls were included in the study. They ranged between 2 and 4 years old. Bulls were not supplemented with trace minerals for 2-6 months prior to the start of study. After this adjustment period, bulls were fed different trace mineral sources for 71 days. One group of bulls was not supplemented, one group was supplemented with sulphate sources of Cu, Zn, and Mn and one group was supplemented with Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace mineral sources of Cu, Zn and M. Each supplement was fed at 75% of NRC requirements for feedlot beef cattle.

Liver biopsies were collected on days -73, -24, and 71 to determine trace mineral status. Semen was collected on days 0, 36, and 70. Aa standard breeding soundness examination for beef bulls was carried out and ejaculates were tested for spermatozoa concentration, morphology and motility.

Results, trace mineral status of beef bulls

On day 71, Cu concentrations in the livers of bulls receiving Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals were greater (P = 0.008) than bulls receiving no mineral supplement or sulfate minerals. Zn concentrations in the liver tended to be greater (P = 0.08) in bulls receiving IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals compared to trace sulfate minerals.

Results, beef semen quality

Beef bulls supplemented with Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals produced sperm with greater progressive motility and greater sperm concentration (see Figure 1).

Selko® | sharing latest scientific insights

Hydroxy trace minerals improve milk production, health & fertility

Several scientific trials have proven the effects of Selko Intellibond. Prof. Dr. Santos at the University of Florida has again shown great results of our Hydroxy Trace Mineral mixture for cows. Watch the videos from the latest webinar and discover how Hydroxy Trace Minerals like Selko Intellibond can increase colostrum production with 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) per cow per day and 1.4 kg ECM (3 lbs) per cow per day throughout the first 105 lactation days.

Conclusion

It was concluded that Selko IntelliBond Cu and Zn hydroxy trace minerals were more bioavailable to beef bulls and more readily stored in the liver compared with Cu and Zn sulfate trace mineral sources. This resulted in an improvement of sperm quality of breeding bulls.

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References about semen quality of beef cattle

  1. Extension University of Missouri; Herd Health Programs and Reproductive Efficiency of Beef Cattle, 2021, Publication No. G2044. Available at: Herd Health Programs and Reproductive Efficiency of Beef Cattle | MU Extension missouri.edu
  2. Zezeski A. L., Van Emon M. L., Waterman R. C., Eik B. A., Heldt J. S., and T.W. Geary. (2016). Impacts of zinc, manganese, and copper source on mature bull trace mineral status and spermatozoa characteristics. Anim. Sci. 94 (Suppl.5): 6092

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