responsible trace mineral management
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Calculating trace mineral levels in the basal diet is necessary to feed dairy cows according to the NASEM 2021 guidelines

Important to know...

How much trace minerals do cows need?

Trace mineral requirements of dairy cattle depend on genetic potential, milk production, reproductive status, days in milk and the composition of the ration. Nutritionists often have concerns about trace mineral deficiencies in cattle, particularly about copper deficiency in cows.

As a result, it is standard practice to supplement cattle with trace minerals at levels exceeding the NASEM 2021 guidelines. Over-feeding of trace minerals for cattle is a common problem1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, increasing the risk of trace minerals toxicity in cattle and trace mineral soil contamination. This emphasizes the importance of aligning dietary mineral levels with the specific animal requirements to balance production efficiency and environmental sustainability.

More about over-supply

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Calculating the optimal level of trace mineral supplementation with the Responsible Trace Mineral approach

How much trace minerals do cows need? Calculating the correct amount of trace minerals for cattle can be done in 3 easy steps.

Step 1: Understanding the NASEM 2021 recommendations for trace minerals for cattle

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2021 guidelines3, formerly the National Research Council (NRC) guidelines9, provide scientifically validated recommendations for dairy nutrition, including trace mineral requirements. The NASEM 2021 guidelines are based on a comprehensive evaluation of all publicly available scientific evidence. The latest update of the NASEM 2021 guidelines reflects minor changes for trace mineral requirements, particularly for Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn, compared to previous NRC (2001) recommendations.

The NASEM 2021 guidelines serve as a benchmark for calculating how much trace minerals cows need and for formulating diets that meet the specific needs of lactating and non-lactating dairy cows. The NASEM 2021 recommendations are based on total diet. Main recommendations and differences between the NASEM 2021 guidelines and the 2001 NRC guidelines have been summarized in the Trouw Nutrition Technical Brochure entitled: NRC 2001 vs NASEM 2021 comparison of trace mineral and vitamin requirements for dairy cattle

Step 2: determine how much trace mineral is already present in the basal ration
The basal ration of dairy cows is defined as the combination of all forages and by-products, without compound feed and supplements. Neglecting the trace minerals naturally present in forages and by-products can result in over-supplementation of trace minerals to dairy cows.

The simplest way to account for trace mineral levels in the basal ration is by using the values from a model based on 5,000 dairy diets analysed by Trouw Nutrition R&D10,16. This option is highly practical and balances the risk between over and under-supply using robust methodology. The method is based on modelling the risk for inadequate trace mineral intake. It makes use the boundaries for adequacy for trace minerals. Through the analysis of approximately 5,000 different diets from different farms, Trouw Nutrition's R&D team calculated the distribution of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) levels across those 5,000 dairy diets10,16 (see Table 1).

Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn) Manganese (Mn)
Percentile Level Percentile Level Percentile Level
Highest 36 Highest 148 Highest 204
99% 18 99% 66 99% 100
90% 12 90% 49 90% 64
50% 9 50% 37 50% 46
10% 7 10% 28 10% 34
1% 5 1% 21 1% 25
Lowest 4 Lowest 15 Lowest 18
Table 1, Trace mineral levels (ppm) for Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe in 5,000 different dairy rations: distribution across percentiles.
Trace element
Copper (ppm) Zinc (ppm) Manganese (ppm)
NASEM 2021 recommendation 10 66 37
1% percentile basal diet 5 21 25
Supplementation required 5 45 12
Trace element
Copper (ppm) Zinc (ppm) Manganese (ppm)
NASEM 2021 recommendation 10 66 37
1% percentile basal diet 5 21 25
Supplementation required 5 45 12

Table 2: Trace mineral content of the basal diet and NASEM 2021 guideline values to calculate how much trace mineral must be supplementation to dairy cattle to prevent trace mineral deficiency in cattle, while avoiding the risk of trace mineral toxicity in dairy cattle.

The 1% percentile from Table 1 is being used to calculate the minimum level of trace mineral that needs to be supplemented to minimise the risk of under-feeding. If the 1% percentile is being used, there is a 99% chance that the actual diet fed on the farm has a higher level of trace minerals compared to the value that is being used in the calculations, reducing the risk of trace mineral deficiency of dairy cattle to 1% or less.

The 99% percentile from Table 1 is being used to compare the maximum level of trace mineral that is supplemented to the tolerance level according to the NASEM 2021 guidelines, thus reducing the risk of over-feeding. If the 99% percentile is being used to calculate the risk of over-feeding, it means there is only a 1% chance that the actual diet used on the farm has a higher level of trace minerals compared to what was used in the calculation. This reduces the risk over over-feeding and trace mineral toxicity in cattle to 1% or less.

Table 2 provides calculations of supplementation levels required to avoid under-supply based on combining data from Table 1 on minimal basal diet trace mineral content with recommended values for trace mineral supplementation of cattle from the NASEM 2021 guidelines.

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Trace element
Copper (ppm) Zinc (ppm) Manganese (ppm)
NASEM 2021 upper tolerance limit 25 130 250
99% percentile basal diet 18 69 100
Maximum supplementation to stay below tolerance limit 7 61 150
Trace element
Copper (ppm) Zinc (ppm) Manganese (ppm)
NASEM 2021 upper tolerance limit 25 130 250
99% percentile basal diet 18 69 100
Maximum supplementation to stay below tolerance limit 7 61 150

Table 3. Trace mineral content of the basal rations and maximum tolerance levels from the NASEM 2021 guidelines are used to calculate how much trace mineral can be supplementation if the risk of trace minerals toxicity in cattle needs to be minimised.

Table 3 compares the maximum amount of trace mineral that is likely to be supplied on top of the levels in the basal diets. It compares these values with tolerance levels according to the NASEM 2021 guidelines. The risk of feeding above tolerance levels is calculated based on combining data from Table 1 with data on maximum dietary tolerance level for trace minerals. According to NASEM 2021 guidelines, the upper tolerance limit is a level at which sub-clinical effects may occur. The level at which trace minerals toxicity occurs is much higher. For example, the NASEM 2021 guidelines suggest the upper tolerance level for manganese is 250 ppm, whereas the toxic level is 1,000 ppm.

Recommendations for Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe supplementation of dairy cattle

Recommendation for copper supplementation of dairy cattle
Risk of under-supply vs. over-supply: at the 1% percentile, the basal diet provides 5 ppm Cu, which partially meets the cow's requirement for copper. At the 99% percentile, the same cow would receive up to 18 ppm Cu from the basal diet. Considering the maximum tolerable limit of 25 ppm we would still be 7 ppm Cu under the maximum tolerable level, but care must be taken to avoid exceeding this threshold.

Copper supplementation needed: to avoid copper deficiency symptoms in cattle and to reach the minimum NASEM 2021 requirement of 10 ppm Cu, an additional 5 ppm Cu must be added. To avoid copper toxicity in cattle, supplementation should not exceed 7 ppm Cu, in order to stay below the upper tolerable limit of 25 ppm. Thus, adding 5-7 ppm Cu is sufficient to meet the NASEM 2021 recommendation and to avoid copper deficiency in cows, while avoiding over-feeding of copper and copper toxicity in dairy cattle.

Recommendations for Zinc supplementation of dairy cattle
Risk of under-supply vs. over-supply: at the 1% percentile, the basal diet provides 21 ppm Zn, which partially meets the NASEM 2021 requirement for dairy cattle. At the 99% percentile, the same cow would receive up to 69 ppm Zn from the basal diet. Considering the maximum tolerable limit in the NASEM guidelines of 130 ppm Zn, we would still be 61 ppm Zn under the maximum tolerable level.

Zinc supplementation needed: to reach the minimum NASEM 2021 requirement of 66 ppm Zn, an additional 45 ppm Zn must be added. To avoid over-supply and trace mineral toxicity in cattle, supplementation should not exceed 61 ppm Zn to stay below the upper tolerable limit of 130 ppm in the NASEM 2021 guidelines. Thus, adding 45-61 ppm Zn is sufficient to meet the cow's needs while avoiding over-feeding.

Recommendations for Manganese supplementation of dairy cattle
Risk of under-supply vs. over-supply: at the 1% percentile, the basal diet provides 25 ppm Mn**, which partially meets the NASEM 2021 recommendations for manganese supplementation of dairy cattle. At the 99% percentile, the same cow would receive up to 100 ppm Mn from the basal diet. Considering the maximum tolerable limit of 250 ppm Mn, we would still be 150 ppm Mn under the maximum tolerable level in the NASEM 2021 guidelines.

Manganese supplementation needed: to reach the minimum requirement in the NASEM 2021 guidelines of 37 ppm Mn, an additional 12 ppm Mn must be added. To avoid over-supply, supplementation should not exceed 150 ppm Mn to stay below the upper tolerable limit of 250 ppm in the NASEM 2021 guidelines. Thus, adding 12-150 ppm Mn is sufficient to meet the recommendations in the NASEM 2021 guidelines, while avoiding over-feeding and trace mineral toxicity in cattle.

It is not recommended to supplement Iron to dairy cows
Dietary iron level at the 1% percentile is 100 ppm, which already exceeds the NASEM 2021 recommendation of 20 ppm iron for lactating cows 5 times. Consequently, additional iron supplementation is unnecessary in adult dairy cattle diets and increases the risk of trace minerals toxicity in cattle.

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Trace Mineral Total NASEM 2021 Requirement (ppm) Contribution from Basal Diet (ppm) Shortfall (ppm) Amount of required from Selko IntelliBond (mg/day) Amount of Selko IntelliBond required (mg/cow/day)
Cu 10 5 10 - 5 = 5 22.5 x 5 = 113 113 / 0.54 = 208
Zn 66 21 66 - 21 = 45 22.5 x 45 = 1,013 1,013 / 0.55 = 1,841
Mn 37 25 37 - 25 = 12 22.5 x 12 = 270 270 / 0.44 = 614
Trace Mineral Total NASEM 2021 Requirement (ppm) Contribution from Basal Diet (ppm) Shortfall (ppm) Amount of required from Selko IntelliBond (mg/day) Amount of Selko IntelliBond required (mg/cow/day)
Cu 10 5 10 - 5 = 5 22.5 x 5 = 113 113 / 0.54 = 208
Zn 66 21 66 - 21 = 45 22.5 x 45 = 1,013 1,013 / 0.55 = 1,841
Mn 37 25 37 - 25 = 12 22.5 x 12 = 270 270 / 0.44 = 614

Table 4: Trace mineral supplementation of dairy cows using Selko IntelliBond products. This table details the shortfall in trace mineral supply from the basal diet, the amount of supplementation required from Selko IntelliBond, and the resulting inclusion rates required to meet the NASEM 2021 guidelines for trace mineral supplementation of dairy cows.

Meeting the shortfall with Selko IntelliBond products

The final step is to calculate the total amount of Selko IntelliBond trace minerals that needs to be included in a diet of a cow consuming 22.5 kg of DM to meet the recommended NASEM 2021 levels for copper of 10 ppm, the NASEM 2021 recommended levels for zinc of 66 ppm and the NASEM 2021 recommended levels for manganese of 27 ppm. Table 4 shows the calculation of the shortfall, and the Selko IntelliBond inclusion rates required to balance the diet and to meet the NASEM 2021 guidelines for dairy cattle.

After supplementation with Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals, the final diet precisely meets the recommended trace mineral requirements from the NASEM 2021 guidelines, ensuring both nutritional adequacy and environmental stewardship:

  • Copper inclusion from Selko IntelliBond C: 5 ppm (resulting in Cu: 10 ppm in total diet)
  • Zinc inclusion from Selko IntelliBond Z: 45 ppm (resulting in Zn: 66 ppm in total diet)
  • Manganese inclusion from Selko IntelliBond M: 12 ppm (resulting in Mn: 37 ppm)

Figure 1: Relative bioavailability of hydroxy trace minerals in Selko IntelliBond compared to organic trace mineral sources and sulphates.

Considering relative bioavailability of trace mineral sources used for supplementation

The recommendations in the NASEM 2021 guidelines are based on trace minerals derived from inorganic sources, which are still widely used in livestock diets. Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals can have a significantly higher relative bioavailability compared to sulphates, due to:

  • Reduced interactions with vitamins and other trace metal ions in the feed matrix
  • Better stability in the rumen and less antagonism with other minerals in the gastro-intestinal tract
  • Improved absorption compared to sulphates and some traditional organic mineral sources.

    Comparative studies11,12,13,14,15 have consistently shown the superior bioavailability of Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals over sulphate-based minerals sources (see Figure 1). There is however variation between different studies. The relative bioavailability of the copper in Selko IntelliBond C compared to copper sulphate varies between 112% and 196%. This is related to the fact that trace mineral absorption in dairy cattle is a regulated process and bioavailability is different between sources but also depending on the level of trace mineral fed to the animal. If fed below requirements, absorption is high, if fed well above requirements, absorption is low. This reduces the risk of trace mineral deficiency in cattle for diets with low levels of trace minerals in the basal diet. If supplementation levels are being reduced, absorption is likely to be upregulated, reducing the risk of under-feeding of trace minerals to dairy cows.

Alternative ways to calculate the amount of trace minerals already present in the basal ration

Step 2 of the previous method to calculate the amount of trace mineral present in the basal ration was based on the “Boundaries of accuracy method”, which was based on trace mineral levels in 5,000 different rations10,16.

Calculating the amount of trace minerals in a basal diet based on the values found in 5,000 diets is a robust and simple method. An alternative approach would be to calculate the amount of trace minerals in a basal diet based on analysis of forages and byproducts. This can be done by analysing the forages and byproducts used on the farm for which the diet is being formulated, or it can be based on typical values based on the analysis of a representative number of samples.

Using typical values trace mineral levels in forages and by-products for dairy diets
In most cases, testing is not feasible, and relying on typical mineral values from trusted sources can provide a practical baseline for supplementation. Typical values for trace mineral levels in forages and by-products can serve as a guideline. Table 5 provides approximate ranges of key trace minerals found in commonly used feed ingredients.

Feed Component Copper (Cu) Manganese (Mn) Zinc (Zn) Iron (Fe)
Alfalfa Hay 8–10 mg/kg DM 30–50 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 100–200 mg/kg DM
Barley Hay 4–6 mg/kg DM 25–35 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 60–110 mg/kg DM
Bermuda Grass 3–5 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 15–25 mg/kg DM 50–100 mg/kg DM
Canola Meal 10–15 mg/kg DM 30–50 mg/kg DM 40–60 mg/kg DM 80–120 mg/kg DM
Citrus Pulp 5–7 mg/kg DM 10–20 mg/kg DM 15–25 mg/kg DM 40–80 mg/kg DM
Corn (Grain) 2–4 mg/kg DM 5–10 mg/kg DM 15–25 mg/kg DM 20–50 mg/kg DM
Corn Silage 4–6 mg/kg DM 15–25 mg/kg DM 10–20 mg/kg DM 50–100 mg/kg DM
Cottonseed Hulls 3–5 mg/kg DM 10–15 mg/kg DM 5–10 mg/kg DM 30–60 mg/kg DM
Distillers Grains 5–10 mg/kg DM 30–60 mg/kg DM 50–80 mg/kg DM 80–120 mg/kg DM
Grass Hay 5–8 mg/kg DM 20–40 mg/kg DM 15–25 mg/kg DM 50–150 mg/kg DM
Oat (Forage) 6–8 mg/kg DM 25–35 mg/kg DM 20–25 mg/kg DM 60–120 mg/kg DM
Red Clover 7–9 mg/kg DM 25–45 mg/kg DM 25–35 mg/kg DM 80–130 mg/kg DM
Ryegrass 5–7 mg/kg DM 30–40 mg/kg DM 20–25 mg/kg DM 70–120 mg/kg DM
Sorghum Silage 4–6 mg/kg DM 15–25 mg/kg DM 10–20 mg/kg DM 50–100 mg/kg DM
Soybean Hulls 5–8 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 50–100 mg/kg DM
Soybean Meal 15–20 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 40–60 mg/kg DM 100–150 mg/kg DM
Wheat Straw 3–5 mg/kg DM 10–20 mg/kg DM 5–10 mg/kg DM 30–60 mg/kg DM
White Clover 6–8 mg/kg DM 20–40 mg/kg DM 20–30 mg/kg DM 70–120 mg/kg DM
Table 5: Trace mineral concentration in common ingredients used in cattle diets. The trace mineral levels in ingredients for dairy rations in the table are approximate values derived from scientific literature, feed composition tables (published by research institutes and organizations) and from private commercial forage and feed testing labs.
Using the selected ingredients and their typical mineral content, the contribution of each trace mineral (Zn, Mn, and Cu) from the basal diet can be calculated. **Table 6** provides an example of a breakdown of the mineral contribution from each ingredient on a dry matter basis.

Ingredient % of DM Zn Contribution (ppm) Mn Contribution (ppm) Cu Contribution (ppm)
Corn Silage 35 25×0.35=9 12×0.35=4 4×0.35=1.4
Grass Hay 20 35×0.20=7 30×0.20=6 6×0.20=1.2
Ground Corn 15 20×0.15=3 5×0.15=1 3×0.15=0.45
Soybean Meal 5 40×0.05=2 30×0.05=2 15×0.05=0.75
Total Contribution — 21 ppm 13 ppm 4 ppm
Table 6: Example on how to calculate trace mineral contributions from basal diet ingredients. This table shows the percentage of each ingredient in the diet, the trace mineral content, and the resulting contribution for zinc, manganese, and copper on a ppm basis.
From the calculated values, the total trace mineral contribution of the base diet for a 22.5 kg DMI was determined. **Table 7** provides these values. The next steps in the calculation will be the same as the steps -after the contribution of the basal diet was calculated based on values from 5,000 diets.

Trace Mineral Contribution from Basal Diet (ppm) Contribution from Basal Diet (mg/day)
Zinc (Zn) 21 21×22.5=467
Manganese (Mn) 13 13×22.5=280
Copper (Cu) 4 4×22.5=86
Table 7: Example on how to calculate trace mineral contributions from basal diet ingredients. This table shows the percentage of each ingredient in the diet, the trace mineral content, and the resulting contribution for zinc, manganese, and copper on a ppm basis.

Calculating the correct level of trace mineral supplementation as part of a Responsible Trace Mineral approach

A crucial element of a Responsible Trace Mineral approach is determining the trace mineral requirements of dairy cattle. The recommended trace mineral supplementation levels in NASEM 2021 guidelines are based on total diet. Ignoring the contribution of the basal diet will lead to over-supply of trace minerals and will increase the risk of trace mineral toxicity in cattle. A robust, accurate and easy to apply method for calculating the trace mineral levels in the basal diet is based on values from 5,000 diets that have been analysed by Trouw Nutrition R&D10,16.

If the total diet does not meet the herd's mineral requirements, supplementation should be provided to avoid copper deficiency in cows as well as deficiencies of zinc and manganese. Iron levels in the basal diet are already above the minimum recommended levels in the NASEM 2021 guidelines, therefore, supplementation of lactating dairy cows with iron will only increase the risk of iron toxicity and contamination of soil with iron.

If a cattle ration has mineral levels above the NASEM 2021 guidelines, reducing the levels of trace mineral supplements for cattle offers multiple benefits. Eliminating unnecessary mineral supplements leads to cost savings, improved performance of dairy cattle and to a significant reduction in mineral excretion into the environment.

By aligning trace mineral feeding with precision nutrition strategies, Selko IntelliBond empowers producers to achieve better herd performance, higher profitability, and a more sustainable future for dairy farming.

Reach out to your local Selko nutritionist for free expert advice
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Optimize Trace Mineral Supplementation in 3 Easy Steps

Over-supplementing trace minerals in dairy diets is common, driving up feed costs, impairing performance, and increasing environmental load. This often stems from overlooking the trace mineral contribution of roughage and by-products, leading to levels that exceed NASEM 2021 guidelines.
Download our brochure to learn how to calculate accurate supplementation in just three steps:

  1. Understand NASEM 2021 recommendations
  2. Assess trace minerals in the basal diet
  3. Supplement only the shortfall with Selko IntelliBond®
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Responsible management of trace minerals for dairy cattle

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Over-feeding of trace minerals is very common in dairy cattle

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References about calculating the correct level of trace mineral nutrition to meet the NASEM 2021 guidelines

  1. Duplessis, M., L. Fadul-Pacheco, D. E. Santschi, and D. Pellerin (2021). Toward precision feeding regarding minerals: What is the current practice in commercial dairy herds in Québec, Canada? Animals (Basel) 11:1320. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051320.
  2. Castillo, A.R., St-Pierre, N.R., Silva del Rio, N, and Weiss, W.P. (2013). Mineral concentrations in diets, and milk and their value in estimating on-farm excretion of manure minerals in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 96(5):3388-3398.
  3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). (2021). Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Eighth Revised Edition. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25806.
  4. Kendall N.R, Holmes-Pavord, H.R, Bone, P.A, Ander, E.L. and S.D. Young (2015). Liver copper concentrations in cull cattle in the UK: are cattle being copper loaded? Vet. Rec.177:493.
  5. Strickland, J. M., Lyman, D., Sordillo, L. M., Herdt, T. H., & Buchweitz, J. P. (2019). Effects of Super Nutritional Hepatic Copper Accumulation on Hepatocyte Health and Oxidative Stress in Dairy Cows. Veterinary Medicine International, 2019, Article ID 3642954. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3642954
  6. Counotte, G., Holzhauer, M., Carp-van Dijken, S., Muskens, J., & Van der Merwe, D. (2019). Levels of trace elements and potential toxic elements in bovine livers: A trend analysis from 2007 to 2018. PLOS ONE, 14(4), e0214584. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214584.
  7. McCaughern J.H., Mackenzie, A.M., Belach, E.C. and Sinclair, L.A. 2024. Overfeeding copper during rearing affects the liver function and fertility of replacement dairy heifers. Vet. Rec. 2024:e4397. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4397.
  8. Marchand C., Royer, I., Gervais, R., Girard, C.L., Benchaar, C., Hassanat, F., Zastepa, A., Crevecoeur, S., and Duplessis, M. 2024. Effects of feeding sulfate trace minerals above recommendations on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, lactational performance, and trace mineral excretion in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 107(10):7983-7995.
  9. National Research Council (NRC). (2001). Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/9825.
  10. Daniel J.B, Martin-Tereso, J. (2025). Dietary guidelines for Zn, Cu, and Mn, in bovines, by integrating net requirements, basal dietary supply, and homeostatic regulation boundaries. Proceedings of the South West Nutrition conference, Chandler, USA.
  11. Shaeffer, G.L, Lloyd, K.E, and J.W. Spears (2017). Bioavailability of zinc hydroxychloride relative to zinc sulphate in growing cattle fed a corn-cottonseed hull-based diet. Animal Feed Science and Technology 232 (2017) 1–5.
  12. Spears, W, Kegley, E.B. and L.A. Mullis (2004) Bioavailability of copper from tribasic copper chloride and copper sulphate in growing cattle. Animal Feed Science and Technology 116: 1–13.
  13. VanValin, K. R., Genther-Schroeder, O.N., Laudert, S.B. and S. L. Hansen (2019). Relative bioavailability of organic and hydroxy copper sources in growing steers fed a high antagonist diet. J. Anim. Sci. 97:1375-1383.
  14. Caldera, C.E, Weigel, B, Kucharczyk, V.N, Sellins, K.S, Archibeque, S.L, Wagner, J.J, Han, H, Spears, J.B. and T.E. Engle (2019). Trace mineral source influences ruminal distribution of copper and zinc and their binding strength to ruminal digesta. J. Anim. Sci., 97:1852-1864.
  15. Shaeffer, G. L., Lloyd, K.E. and J. W. Spears (2017). Bioavailability of zinc hydroxychloride relative to zinc sulfate in growing cattle fed a corn-cottonseed hull-based diet. Anim. Feed.
  16. Daniel J.B, Martin-Tereso, J. (2025). Review: Homeostatic boundaries to dietary Zn, Cu and Mn supply in cattle. Animal, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101532.

Selko Feed Additives 

Making sustainable dairy farming more profitable

Selko IntelliBond

Selko IntelliBond’s increased bioavailability and the positive impact on fibre digestion and gut barrier function support well-being and optimizes lactational performance of dairy cows.A recent trial by Professor Santos at the University of Florida showed improved colostrum production, an increase of ECM production of 1.5 kg per day, an improvement of health and fertility and a reduction of the culling rate in animals fed Selko IntelliBond trace minerals for dairy cows.

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Selko IntelliOpt Cr

Selko IntelliOpt Cr is a conveneient blend of Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals in and organic Selko Optimin trace minerals, combined with chromium propionate. Selko IntelliOpt Cr is the result of intensive research, resulting in a trace mineral blend that improves health and perfomance of cattle herds.

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Selko LactiBute

Adding Selko LactiBute to the ration increases milk production while increasing fat and protein levels at the same time. This results in an increase of Energy Corrected Milk of 0.85-1 kg per head per day.

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Selko Fytera Balance

Adding Selko Fytera Balance to the ration of dairy cows reduces systemic inflammation, resulting in an improvement of lactational performance

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Selko TMR

Selko TMR® is a blend of organic acids that reduces the growth of yeasts, moulds and bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae like Salmonella. As a result of the reduction in growth of micro-organisms, increases in temperature of the TMR are delayed by at least 6 hours in silages treated with Selko-TMR, resulting in a higher dry matter intake.

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Selko Renergy®

Selko Renergy® is a blend of organic acids that modifies rumen fermentation by increasing propionate production. Propionate is a key source of energy for ruminants and is also the most efficient volatile fatty acid (VFA) produced in the rumen. More energy from propionate in the rumen increases production efficiency.

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Selko TOXO HP-R

Discover the power of Selko TOXO HP-R, a mycotoxin mitigation product. Packed with a potent blend of bentonite, β-glucans, and antioxidants, this solution strengthens gut barrier function, boosts immunity, and reduces the impact of immune activation. Our trials prove it: Selko TOXO HP-R not only increases milk production but also enhances fertility in dairy cows exposed to high Fusarium mycotoxin levels.

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Selko Vivalto

B vitamins play a vital role in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism of dairy cows. In high yielding dairy cows, particularly those on rations that are high in fermetable carbohydrates, subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) can reduce rumen synthesis of B vitamins. As a result, dairy diets cannot always meet vitamin B requirements for dairy cattle. B Vitamin supplementation with rumen protected B vitamins in Selko Vivalto has been shown to increase milk production of dairy cows.

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Selko TOXO-MX

Selko TOXO-MX is part of our Selko Mycotoxin Risk Management Programme and consists of smectite clays, which have shown to have a high binding capacity for aflatoxin B1. With the bioavailability of aflatoxin B1 reduced, the production of aflatoxin M1 is diminished, meaning lower levels are excreted into the milk.

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Selko AOmix

Addressing oxidative stress in cattle with balanced diets rich in antioxidants like Selko AOmix, ensuring improved growth, immune function, and reproduction by offering optimal digestibility and full cellular delivery.

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