2. Calcium Requirements Beef Cattle - 1996
Maintenance: mg Ca/kg body wt
Gain: g Ca/100 g protein gain
Lactation: g Ca/kg milk
Pregnancy: g Ca/kg fetal wt
Distributed over last 3 months
Correct for percentage of dietary Ca absorbed
True absorption = 50%
Requirement = Sum of fractions/0.5

3. Calcium Requirements Dairy Cattle - 2001
Requirements as absorbed Ca, g/d
Maintenance
Nonlactating: g/kg body wt
Lactating: 0.031g/kg body wt
Growth
(9.83*(mature wt0.22)*(body wt-0.22))*wt gain

4. Calcium Requirements Dairy Cattle - 2001
Pregnancy
See publication
Lactation
g/kg milk: 1.22 Holstein, 1.45 Jersey,
1.37 other
Absorption of Ca
Forages - 30%
Concentrates - 60%
Inorganic Ca - 75%

5. Calcium Absorbed from duodenum and jejunum.
Active and passive absorption.
Vitamin D required for active absorption.
Efficiency of Ca absorption declines with
age and increases during lactation.
Some forms of Ca not readily absorbed
Oxylates - found in legumes.
Fat can reduce Ca absorption.

6. Calcium Ca deficiency Rickets (abnormal bone development) in young
Osteomalacia (demineralized bone)
in adult
Blood Ca not adequate indicator

7. Sources of Calcium Feeds: Forages (leaves) tend to be high
Grains tend to be low
Supplemental: % Ca
Ca carbonate
Ground limestone - Ca carbonate 34.0
Bone meal
Dicalcium phosphate
Ca sulfate

8. Phosphorus Requirements Beef cattle - 1996
Maintenance: mg P/kg body wt
Gain: g P/100 g protein gain
Lactation: .95g P/kg milk
Pregnancy: 7.6 g P/kg fetal wt
Distributed over last 3 months
Correct for percentage of dietary P absorbed
True absorption = 68%
Requirement = Sum of fractions/0.68

9. Phosphorus Requirements Dairy Cattle - 2001
Requirements as absorbed P, g/d
Maintenance
Lactating &nonlactating: 1.0 g/kg DM intake
Growth
(1.2 + (4.635*mature wt0.22)*(body
wt-0.22)))*wt gain

10. Phosphorus Requirements Dairy Cattle - 2001
Pregnancy:
See publication
Lactation:
0.90 g of P/kg milk
Absorption of P
Forages - 64%
Concentrates - 70%
Inorganic Ca - 70%

11. Phosphorus Absorption occurs from small intestine.
Absorption is an active process.
Active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxy) stimulates.
Influenced by source, Ca, intestinal pH, Fe, Al, Mn, K, Mg, fat.

12. Phosphorus Deficiency: Poor appetite Weak fragile bones Low conception
Poor growth
Poor feed efficiency
Low blood P

13. Sources of Phosphorus Feeds: Forages tend to be low - dependent
on soil P.
Grains tend to be moderate to high.
Phytate P is utilized by ruminants.
Supplemental: % P
Dicalcium phosphate 19.3
Bone meal
Ammonium P (Mono) 24.7

14. Calcium and Phosphorus
Ruminants will tolerate Ca:P ratios of
1:1 to 7:1.
At ratios above and below this range,
there is poor growth and decreased
nutrient utilization.
Feeding too much P may cause bone
resorption, elevated plasma P and urinary
calculi.

15. Magnesium Requirement Beef cattle
Growing and finishing: 0.10 % of diet
Gestating cows: % of diet
Lactating cows: % of diet
Growth mg/kg gain
Lactation mg/kg milk
Pregnancy , 0.21 and 0.33
mg/d for early, mid and late pregnancy

16. Magnesium Requirement Dairy Cattle - 2001
Requirements as absorbed Mg, g/d
Maintenance
Lactating & nonlactating: 3 mg/kg body wt
Growth
0.45 g/kg body wt
Pregnancy
0.33 g/day

17. Magnesium Requirement Dairy Cattle - 2001
Lactation
0.15 g/kg milk
Absorption of Mg
Feedstuffs 16%
Mg oxide 50%

18. Magnesium Deficiencies: Young calves kept on milk diet:
Loss of appetite, poor performance,
increased excitability, tetany
Young: anorexia, convulsions, profuse
salivation, excitable
Lactating cows grazing lush pasture:
Tetany (grass tetany), poor absorption
of Mg

19. Magnesium Mg is absorbed from the rumen.
Absorption is high in young animals
fed milk and declines with age.
Mg in grains more available than
Mg in forages.
Excess Mg is excreted in urine. Cattle
and sheep will tolerate 0.4 %to 0.5% Mg.

20. Magnesium
Feeds: Plants are quite variable depending on species, soil concentrations, stage of growth, environmental temperature.
Legumes higher than grasses.
Grains usually contain 0.11 to 0.17 %.
Plant proteins sources 0.20 to 0.35 %.
Supplemental: %
MgO
MgSO
MgCO
Mg in dolmitic limestone is poorly available.

21. Potassium Requirement Beef - 1996
Growing 0.6 % of diet
Beef cows 0.5 to 0.7 % of diet
Lactation Increase 0.1 %
Deficiency
Reduced feed intake, poor growth,
rough hair coat, chewing on wood,
reduced milk production
K absorbed from rumen and omasum
as well as intestine.

22. Potassium Requirement Dairy - 2001
Growing and nonlactating
0.038 g/kg body wt g/kg DM intake
Lactating
0.038 g/kg body wt g/kg DM intake
Growth
1.6 g/kg gain

23. Potassium Requirement Dairy - 2001
Pregnancy
See publication
Lactation
1.5 g/kg milk
Dietary K 90% available

24. Potassium Forages are excellent sources of K, >1%.
Decreases with maturity.
Grains are often poorer sources of K, 0.4%.
Supplemental
Potassium chloride %
Potassium bicarbonate %
Potassium sulfate %
Stress
Heat - Transportation
Performance improved by levels of
1.0% to 1.2% of diet DM.

25. Sodium Beef - 1996 Requirement Nonlactating 0.06% - 0.08% of diet DM

26. Sodium Dairy - 2001 Maintenance Growing and nonlactating
1.5 g/100 kg body wt
Lactating
3.8 g/100kg body wt
Growth g/kg of daily gain
Pregnancy See publication
Lactation g/kg milk
Dietary Na 100% available

27. Sodium Deficiency Chewing wood, licking dirt, reduced
feed intake, reduced gain.
Toxicity
Ruminants tolerate high concentrations
of salt in feeds - up to 9 to 10% of feed DM.
1.25 to 2.0% salt in water will reduce water
and feed intake, weight loss and physical
collapse.

28. Sodium Feeds of plant origin usually have inadequate
sodium. Feeds of animal origin have higher
concentrations of sodium.
% Na %Cl
NaCl
NaCHO3 27.0
Feed 0.2% to 0.3% of total diet as NaCl.
If NaCl is fed, Cl requirements are met.

29. Chlorine Dairy - 2001 Maintenance 2.25 g/100 kg body wt
Growth 1.0 g/kg of daily gain
Pregnancy See publication
Lactation g/kg milk
Dietary Cl 90% available

30. Cation - Anion Balance of diet
Meq((Na+K) - (Cl))/kg Diet DM
Meq ((Na+K) - (Cl+S))/kg Diet DM
Meq((Na+K+0.15Ca+0.15Mg) - (Cl+0.6S+
0.5P))/kg Diet DM

31. Cation - Anion Balance of diet
If negative there tends to be metabolic acidosis
Decreased feed intake and
performance - All animals
Strategy used in dairy cows
prior to calving to prevent milk fever
Feed:
Ammonium chloride, Calcium chloride,
Magnesium chloride, hydrochloric acid

32. Cation - Anion Balance of diet
If positive there tends to be metabolic
alkalosis
Benefits to having positive CAB for
growing animals and lactating cows
Do not know what ratio should be
for beef cattle in feedlot.
+200 to +300 Meq/kg feed DM for
lactating cows and young calves

33. Grass Tetany Result of low blood Mg Lactating cows grazing lush spring
forage and 1 to 3 weeks into lactation
Forage low in Mg & Na, high in K & N
Removal of 0.15 g Mg for each liter of milk
Poor absorption of Mg
Loss of coordination, coma, death
Treatment: Intravenous Ca and Mg
Prevent: Supplement Mg

34. Trace Minerals Sulfur Requirement: 0.15 to 0.2% of diet is adequate.
N:S ratio of 10:1.
Required for synthesis of sulfur-
containing amino acids by rumen organisms.
Poor growth, excessive salvation, reduced
wool growth, reduced rumen function.

35. Trace Minerals Sulfur Toxicity: > 0.5% of diet
Reduced feed intake, restlessness, diarrhea.
Water may contain high concentrations of
sulfates. Up to 5,000 ppm.
Supplemental sources: Sulfates, elemental
S, sulfur amino acids.

36. Trace Minerals Cobalt Requirement: 0.08 to 0.2 mg/kg diet DM
is adequate. Dairy-2001 indicates 0.11mg/kg
Poor growth lack of appetite, weakness,
decreased wool growth, decreased use
of propionate (Vitamin B12 not produced in
the rumen)
Toxicity: In excess of 10 mg/kg diet DM
Supplemental sources: Co sulfate, Co
carbonate
Co supply is limited, very expensive

37. Trace Minerals Zinc Requirement: Growing: 30 mg/kg feed DM
Lactating: 60 mg/kg feed DM
Poor growth, listlessness, loss of wool,
poor reproduction, perakaratotic lesions
Toxicity: > 500 mg/kg feed
Reduced feed intake, Cu deficiency
Supplemental sources: Zn sulfate, Zn methionine, Zn oxide
Efficiency of absorption is 15%

38. Trace Minerals Iodine Requirement: 0.1 to 0.8 mg/kg diet DM
is adequate. Greater requirement for
lactation than growth, not increased by
pregnancy. Dry cow mg/kg DM
Lactating cow mg/kg
Deficiency: Less thyroid hormones, enlarged
thyroid glands, weak or dead lambs, calves
born hairless, weak or dead
Goitrogens in feed can increase requirement.

39. Trace Minerals Iodine Toxicity: In excess of 5 mg/kg diet DM.
Reduced feed intake, less gain, nasal
discharge, salvation, decreased milk
production.
Supplemental sources: Ethylenediamine
dihydroiodine (often fed to reduce foot rot
in cattle, predominant source of I for
ruminants), iodides of Ca, Na & K (Often
added to salt)
80 to 90% of dietary I is absorbed.

40. Trace Minerals Copper Requirement: Beef cattle
8 to 10 mg/kg diet DM is adequate.
Dairy cattle
Endogeous loss ug/kg body wt
Lactation mg/kg milk
Gestation to 1.5 mg/day
Dietary Cu 4% available
Absorption is decreased by sulfur (>.20%), Mo (2 mg/kg), Fe ( mg/kg), Zn (>40 mg/kg) in the feed.

41. Trace Minerals Copper Deficiency: Loss of hair pigment, anemia,
poor growth, muscle incoordination, stringy
wool, weak lambs, reduced growth, rough
hair coat, scours.
Toxicity: Sheep mg/kg feed DM
Cattle - 40 to 100 mg/kg feed DM
Supplemental sources: Cu sulfate (most
available), Cu carbonate, Cu oxide (not
readily available, lowest cost, most
often used).

42. Trace Minerals Iron Requirement: Sheep - 30 mg/kg feed DM
Cattle - 50 to 100 mg/kg feed DM
Anemia, poor growth, listlessness,
increased respiration.
Most feeds have adequate Fe for adults.
Milk-fed calves require supplemental Fe.
Fe+++ poorly absorbed.

43. Trace Minerals Iron Toxicity: > 1000 mg/kg feed
250 to 500 mg/kg feed may reduce Cu
absorption.
Reduced feed intake, diarrhea, poor growth
Supplemental sources: Fe sulfate (most
available), Fe chloride, Fe carbonate (most
used by feed industry), Fe oxide (least
available - should not be used)

44. Trace Minerals Manganese
Requirement: 20 mg/kg feed DM
Requirement affected by high Ca and
Fe - Increased excretion in feces
Poor growth, skeletal abnormalities, poor reproduction
Toxicity: > 1000 ppm
Reduced feed intake, diarrhea
Supplemental sources: Mn sulfate (most available, more expensive), Mn oxide (most often used). Forages contain more Mn than grains, corn is low Absorption - <1.0%

45. Trace Minerals Molybdenum
Requirement: Sheep mg/kg feed DM
Requirement affected by high S.
Deficiency not observed in cattle.
Toxicity: 5 to 20 mg/kg diet
Cu deficiency, (anemia), reduced growth, infertility, diarrhea
Supplemental sources: Most feeds are adequate.

46. Trace Minerals Selenium
Requirement: 0.1 mg/kg feed DM
Supplementation in Se deficient areas
0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg feed DM
Absorption is 45 to 60%
Degeneration of heart and skeletal muscles (white muscle disease - young calves and lambs), embryonic deaths, slow growth.
High sulfur may reduce absorption. Related to vitamin E.

47. Trace Minerals Selenium
Toxicity: > 2 mg/kg diet
Blind staggers, sulleness, head lowered,
ears drooped, loss of hair from tail,
swollen feet, sloughing of hooves
Supplemental sources: Na selenite,
Na selenate (not used very much)
FDA:
Supplement up to 0.3 mg/kg diet DM

48. Trace Minerals Nickel Requirement: Not established.
Component of urease in bacteria.
May be important for urease activity
in the rumen
Toxicity: > 50 mg/kg diet

49. Toxic Minerals Maximum Tolerable Concentrations
mg/kg feed
Aluminum 1,000
Arsenic
Bromine
Cadmium
Fluorine
Lead
Mercury

50. Vitamins Fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E and K Water soluble
Thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine,
pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid,
vitamin B12, vitamin C, choline
Water soluble vitamins synthesized in
the rumen or in body tissues

51. Vitamin A (Retinol) Vitamin of most practical importance in
ruminant feeds
Deficiency most likely:
High concentrate feeds
Mature - drought pastures
Long stored feeds
Sunlight, air, high temperatures
Heavily process feeds
Ruminants do not efficiently convert
carotene to vitamin A.
1 mg carotene 400 IU vitamin A

52. Vitamin A Deficiency Reduced feed intake - slow growth Rough hair coat
Edema of joints and brisket
Watery eyes
Night blindness
Low conception
Still births

53. Vitamin A Requirements Cattle IU/kg feed DM Growing 2,200
Pregnant beef cows 2,800
Pregnant dairy cows 4,000
Lactating cows 3,900
Sheep
Growing lambs 1,500
Gestating ewes 3,300
Lactating ewes 2,700

54. Vitamin A Requirements Dairy cattle 110 IU/kg body wt
Supplemental Vitamin A (retinol)
1 IU of Vit A activity =
0.344 ug of all-trans retinyl acetate
0.550 ug all-trans retinyl palmitate

55. Vitamin A Vitamin A stored in the liver when intake of
vitamin A or carotene is high.
Vitamin A in the liver has about 4 weeks of
half life.
Should not depend on more that 2 to 4
months of protection from storage of
vitamin A in the liver.
Ruminants have a high tolerance for
vitamin A.

56. Vitamin D Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) - found in plants
Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) - found in animals
Vit D2 25-hydroxy-vit D3 (in liver)
1, 25-dihydroxy-vit D3 (in kidney)
1,25-dihydroxy-vit D3 is active form of vitamin.
Vitamin D not stored in the body in any quantity

57. Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets in calves Swollen and stiff joints
Reduced feed intake
Tetany
Weak bones
Vitamin D can be toxic
High blood Ca
Calcification of soft tissues
Loss of appetite

58. Vitamin D Requirement IU/kg Feed DM All beef cattle 275
Growing lambs 185
Gestating ewes 216
Lactating ewes 148
Lactating dairy 30 IU/kg body wt
Dry pregnant cows 30 IU/kg body wt
Animals fed sun cured hays and/or kept
in sunlight have limited needs for supplemental vitamin D

59. Vitamin E (Tocopherols)
Deficiency
White muscle disease
Weak muscles
Retained placenta
Reduced reproduction
Reduced disease resistance
Toxicity not demonstrated in ruminants
Vitamin E not extensively stored in the
body

60. Vitamin E Requirement IU/kg feed DM All beef cattle 15 to 60
Pregnant and lactating cows 20
Growing heifers 25
All sheep 15
Related to adequacy of selenium
Feedlot cattle
Feed 500 IU/day for 100 days.
Extend shelf life of beef cuts in the sales case

61. Vitamin E Dairy - 2001 Dry cows 60 days before calving
80 IU/kg feed DM
Based on reduction in mastitis and
immune function
Lactating cows
20 IU/kg feed DM
Needs to be increased when poor quality
forage is fed or feeds have low Se content

62. Vitamin K Adequate vitamin K (menaquinones)
synthesized by bacteria in the rumen
No established requirement
Cattle fed moldy sweet clover have
prolonged clotting of blood - “sweet
clover disease”. A fungus produces
dicoumarol that is a metabolic
antagonist of vitamin K.

63. Thiamin
Adequate quantities normally produced by the bacteria in the rumen.
Thiaminase and thiamin antimetabolites produced
in ruminants fed rapidly fermented diets.
Infrequently polioencephalomalacia (PEM), a disorder of the central nervous system, develops.
Retracted head, weakness, collapse, blindness
are symptoms.

64. Thiamin Benefits from supplementation with thiamin
are inconsistent. 100 to 500 mg thiamin/day
Recommended.
It has long been speculated that feeding high
levels of sulfur (greater than 0.5% of diet) will
also cause PEM. It is recommended to feed
thiamin to prevent.

65. Thiamin Feeding high amounts of sulfur does not reduce blood thiamin.
Feeding sulfur causes a transient increase in
hydrogen sulfide concentrations in the rumen.
During this time cattle are subject to a
condition resembling PEM.

66. Other Water Soluble Vitamins Not required in diet of ruminants
Riboflavin
Niacin Supplementation may benefit Pyridoxine high producing animals
Pantothenic acid
Biotin
Folic acid
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Choline
Ruminants with functional rumens obtain water soluble vitamins from the digestive tract.