CASE STUDY: Effects of Supplementing Injectable Trace Minerals on Dairy Calf Performance

Calves from a commercial dairy operation were studied to determine if an alternative method of supplying trace minerals would improve calf growth and mineral status. The objective of these trials was to determine the effects of supplementing trace minerals with an injectable mineral product (MIN), containing 16 mg/mL Cu, 10 mg/mL Mn, 5 mg/mL Se, and 48 mg/mL Zn, on ADG and blood and liver mineral concentrations of preweaned dairy calves. In trial 1, 123 Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to either the control or the MIN treatment. Calves on the MIN treatment (n = 60) received a 1-mL injection of MIN at 1 d of age. Calves were weighed on d 3 ± 2 and again on d 42 ± 3 to determine ADG. Trial 2 included 10 Holstein bull calves, with MIN calves (n = 5) receiving a 1-mL injection of MIN at d 4. Blood and liver samples were collected on d 3 and 43. In trial 1, ADG (0.29 and 0.30 kg/d for control and MIN, respectively) and weaning weights (49.0 and 50.1 kg for control and MIN, respectively) were similar (P > 0.10). In trial 2, ADG for control and MIN calves were similar (P > 0.10) and averaged 0.49 and 0.50 kg/d, respectively. Blood and liver mineral concentrations were similar (P > 0.10) for control and MIN calves. In these trials, an injection of this mineral product at birth did not significantly affect ADG or blood and liver mineral concentrations of dairy calves.