The Effects of ZinMet Brand Liquid Zinc Methionine on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Merit in Crossbred Yearling Steers1,2,3

The use of liquid zinc methionine for yearling steers was evaluated. In Exp. 1, a control (CON) treatment provided 15, 40, and 100 mg/kg (DM basis) of Cu, Mn, and Zn from inorganic sources, and an organic trace mineral (ORG) treatment provided 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg (DM basis) of Cu, Mn, and Zn from Cu betaine, Mn methionine, and Zn methionine, respectively. Finished BW, ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency were similar (P > 0.30) for CON and ORG treatments. In Exp. 2, a CON treatment provided 100 mg/kg DM supplemental Zn from Zn sulfate and an ORG treatment provided 40 mg/kg DM supplemental Zn from Zn methionine and 60 mg/kg DM supplemental Zn from Zn sulfate. Body weight was increased (P < 0.09) at d 35 for steers fed ORG as compared with steers fed CON. Finished BW, ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency from d 1 through harvest were similar (P > 0.58) for CON and ORG treatments. Average daily gain from d 1 through 34 was improved (P < 0.05) for the ORG treatment as compared with the CON treatment (1.70 vs. 1.55 kg/d per head, respectively). Carcass weight, dressing percentage, YG, QG, and liver abscess rate were similar for CON and ORG treatments for both experiments. These data indicate that overall feedlot performance and carcass merit were similar for yearling steers fed CON and ORG trace mineral sources.