The effects of feeding high levels of trace minerals to dairy cows
How much trace minerals do cows need? Trace mineral benefits for cattle are proven. Dairy cows need trace mineral supplementation to avoid mineral deficiencies in cattle that can have a negative impact lactational performance, health, and reproduction. Supplying dairy cows with trace minerals above recommended levels in the NASEM 2021 guidelines on the other hand can lead to:
- Increased feeding costs
- Increased reactivity towards vitamins in cattle supplements and premixes
- Antagonist effect with other minerals in the rumen
- Trace mineral toxicity in cattle
- Decreased dairy performance
- Soil contamination with trace metal ions