South Dakota State University professor Cody Wright and University of Nebraska Extension researcher Rick Funston each focused on nutrition and its benefits in cow herds at the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle conference in Sioux Falls, S.D., earlier this month.

Wright talked about mineral nutrition, noting that there are far more questions than answers on the subject, although research is continuing.

Funston, who works at the universitys North Platte research center, said beef producers can change the growth curve in cattle by fetal programming, including putting more cattle out on corn residue and supplementing diets in winter grazing systems to improve not only the mothers health but also those of calves even before they are born.

Wright said mineral supplements are small in proportion to total nutrition intake but critical to growth, immune function and reproduction in beef cattle herds.

He said when he was an Extension specialist, one of the most common questions he received about sick calves or reproduction problems was whether there were mineral deficiencies.

Nine times out of 10, it had nothing to do with the mineral formulation. It was usually right on the money. But the problem is that it was formulated for three ounces of intake, but the cows were only eating one (ounce), he said.

Calcium and phosphorus are the two main, or macro, minerals needed.

Calcium plays a tremendous role in animal reproduction, Wright said. He said its closely tied to sperm motility, fertilization of eggs and enabling of sperm to travel to an egg. Mother Nature has a safety net in the bones for calcium intake, but its not a big mineral to be concerned about as a supplement.

The mineral is found in forage. Wright said studies show that calcium in forage decreases over time as plants mature, so there is more of a benefit to a supplement in the springtime.

Phosphorus, Wright said, also plays a critical role in reproduction and is an important component of an animals DNA. It plays a role in sperm production, egg production and egg fertilization.

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Nutrition examined as key element in cattle reproduction