Providing balanced nutrients is critical for maintaining cow fertility. Adequate trace mineral intake and absorption is required for proper functioning of many metabolic processes associated with reproduction. Reproductive performance of cattle may be compromised if zinc, copper, or manganese status is in the marginal-to-deficient range. Common copper deficiency symptoms in cattle include delayed or suppressed estrus, decreased conception, infertility and embryo death. Inadequate zinc levels have been associated with decreased fertility, abnormal estrus, abortion and altered myometrial contractibility with prolonged labor. Manganese deficiency in cows results in suppression of conception rates, delayed estrus in both post-partum females and young prepuberal heifers, infertility, abortion, immature ovaries and dystocia. This study evaluated the effect on reproduction from feeding complex trace to beef cattle.

Storage has become the leading management option for spent reactor fuel and many storage facilities are operating longer than originally anticipated. Aging is a term that focuses attention on the consequences of such extended operation on the systems, structures, and components (SSCs) of storage facilities. The key to mitigating age-related degradation in storage facilities is to understand and manage aging of the facility materials. A systematic approach to preclude serious effects of age-related degradation is addressed in this paper, which mainly deals with test and research reactors (RRs).The first need is to assess the facility materials and their environments. Access to historical data on facility design, fabrication, and operation can facilitate assessment of expected materials performance. Methods to assess the current condition of facility materials are summarized in the paper. Each facility needs an aging management plan to define the scope of the management program, involving identification of the materials that need specific actions to manage age-related degradation. For each material, one or more aging management programs (AMPs) are developed and become part of the plan. Several national and international organizations have developed comprehensive approaches to aging management. A method developed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is recommended as a template for organizing measures to effectively manage age-related degradation of storage facility materials, including the scope of inspection, surveillance, and maintenance needed to ensure successful operation of the facility over its required life. Important to effective aging management is a staff alert to evidence of materials degradation and committed to carrying out the AMPs.

Five hundred and fifty-five healthy, pregnant, non-lactating Holstein–Friesian cows on an intensively grazed, commercial dairy were assigned to a study to determine effects of daily water treatment with Co glucoheptonate and amino acid complexes of Zn, Mn and Cu on lactational performance, fertility and claw hardness. Cows were randomly assigned to treatment based upon eartag number. At approximately 35 days prior to calving, cows began receiving either a diet containing no supplemental Zn, Mn, Cu and Co or a diet which provided daily 360mg Zn, 200mg Mn, 125mg Cu and 12mg Co from complexed sources (CTM). Cows continued to receive their respective treatments through 230 days postpartum. Treatments were delivered via a commercial concentrate, precalving and postcalving, by dispersing CTM (liquid) into water troughs. Cows were milked twice daily, milk weights were recorded and samples collected six times during lactation. All reproductive events were recorded. Claws were examined on four separate occasions with liver and blood samples collected on three separate occasions during the study. Compared to the control, supplementing CTM increased (P≤0.05) yield of milk (17.5kg/day versus 16.6kg/day), milk energy (58.6MJ/day versus 55.3MJ/day), milk fat (0.78kg/day versus 0.73kg/day), milk crude protein (0.62kg/day versus 0.58kg/day) and milk solids (1.39kg/day versus 1.31kg/day). There was no effect of treatment on milk composition or somatic cell content of milk. Supplementing CTM reduced (P≤0.05) controlled internal drug releasing usage (16cases/100 cows versus 26cases/100 cows) and tended (P≤0.10) to reduce incidence of non-pregnant cows (13cases/100 cows versus 18cases/100 cows) and mastitis cases (23.8cases/100 cows versus 29.9cases/100 cows). Supplementing CTM increased Cu and Vitamin B12 status (P≤0.05) as indicated by liver Cu and serum Vitamin B12 content. There was no effect of treatment on claw hardness. Increasing Zn, Mn, Cu and Co intake of intensely grazed dairy cattle through CTM supplementation increased lactation performance, fertility and Cu and Vitamin B12 reserves.

The objective of this review was to summarize 12 trials (13 comparisons) evaluating effects of zinc methionine (ZM) complex (ZINPRO®; Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) on lactation performance and udder health. Summarized trials were conducted in Washington (2), Colorado (2), New York, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia, Great Britain, Germany, and Israel. In 5 of the trials, ZM provided between 180 and 200mg of zinc/d per head; in the remaining 7 trials (8 comparisons), ZM supplied 360 to 400mg of zinc. In all diets, cows received additional zinc from inorganic sources, with the exception of the control diet in one of the Missouri comparisons. For statistical evaluation, each trial was considered as a block, and the treatment least squares mean within a trial was treated as an observation using a mixed model. Cows fed ZM produced more (P<0.01) milk (31.8 vs 30.5 kg/d), energy-corrected milk (31.7 vs 30.4 kg/d), and fat-corrected milk (31.6 vs 30.0 kg/ d) than control cows. Milk composition did not differ (P>0.15) between treatment and control cows. Somatic cell count (SCC; 1000/mL) was reduced from 294 to 196 (P<0.01) in cows receiving ZM. This summary of 12 dairy trials indicates that ZM increases lactation performance and improves udder health, as a 33.3% reduction in SCC occurred.

Three studies were conducted with dairy cattle fed diets with added Co. The first study examined cow age and added dietary Co on Co in liver and blood. Nonpregnant, nonlactating Holstein cows were blocked by age (2.5 or 6.5 yr) and assigned to either a control diet or a diet supplemented with 9 mg Co per day. The Co concentration of liver, taken on d 60, was not affected by dietary Co but was higher in the younger cows. The cytosolic fraction of liver contained the most Co, and the subcellular distribution of Co was not affected by total Co in liver. In a second study, Holstein cows were assigned to one of three treatments of dietary Co from 21 d prepartum until 120 d postpartum. There was an interaction of time x treatment x parity such that milk yield response to Co supplementation differed between multiparous cows and primiparous cows. Supplemental Co did not increase Co in serum, colostrum, milk, or liver. Primiparous cows secreted colostrum and milk with higher Co concentrations than did multiparous cows. Likewise, serum B12 levels were higher in primiparous than multiparous cows and declined with increasing days in milk (DIM). Serum Co also decreased from 7 to 120 DIM. In a final study, a Co supplement in the starter diet did not affect Co in serum or liver of young calves. In conclusion, supplemental dietary Co did not affect secretion of Co in milk, tissue retention, or subcellular distribution of Co within the liver. Primiparous and multiparous cows differed in their milk yield response to dietary Co supplementation.

A concern of nutritionists and live production personnel is to improve early flock livability and growth rate of broilers. Improvements in progeny performance through trace metal supplementation in the hen's diet may be a method to accomplish this. The focus of this experiment was to evaluate live performance and carcass parameters of progeny from broiler breeders fed diets containing different levels and forms of Zn and Mn. Cobb 500 breeders received a control diet or diets containing supplemental Zn and Mn from inorganic sources, amino acid complexes, or a combination of the two. Body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, livability, percentage carcass without giblets, percentage abdominal fat, and percentage breast meat were measured on the progeny of 37-wk-old breeders. Feeding broiler breeders supplemental Zn and Mn from amino acid complexes improved livability of progeny without affecting growth or carcass characteristics. In conclusion, future research should address progeny carryover of Zn and Mn to improve livability during stress or disease conditions.

The objective of this review was to evaluate the effects of feeding a combination of cobalt glucoheptonate and specific amino acid complexes of zinc, manganese, and copper (CTM; 4-Plex®; Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) on lactation and reproductive performance of dairy cows. In each of eight trials, cows consumed daily 360mg of zinc from zincmethionine (ZM) complex, 200mg of manganese from manganese-methionine complex, 125mg of copper from copperlysine complex, and 25mg of cobalt from cobalt glucoheptonate. In four studies, control and treatment diets contained an equivalent amount of zinc, manganese, and copper. In three studies, control and treatment diets contained an equivalent amount of zinc from zinc-methionine complex. In one study, two comparisons were made; these included complexes vs control and complexes vs sulfates. For evaluation purposes, each trial was considered a block, and each treatment least squares mean within a trial was treated as an observation. Cows fed CTM produced more (P≤ 0.05) milk (36.8 vs 35.7 kg/d), energy-corrected milk (37.9 vs 36.7 kg/d), 3.5% fat-corrected milk (37.7 vs 36.6), milk fat (1.35 vs 1.30 kg/d), and milk protein (1.17 vs 1.14 kg/d) than control cows. The CTM in the diet reduced (P≤ 0.05) days to first service (74 vs 81 d) and days open (115 vs 131 d) and tended to reduce (P≤ 0.10) somatic cell count of milk (301,000 vs 343,000). This summary of eight dairy trials indicates that dietary CTM increases lactation and reproductive performance of cows.

In two separate studies, 60 beef heifers (379kg BW) and 60 beef steers (348kg BW) were randomly assigned to six treatments in 2×3 factorial arrangements. The treatments were with or without Synovex® implants combined with either a control diet or diets supplemented with 200ppm Zn from ZnSO4 or zinc methionine (Zn-Met). Near the mid-point of the feeding periods, cattle were vaccinated with a modified live virus and subsequent titers and concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) were measured. Liver and blood samples were obtained 1 week prior to the start of the experiments and at intervals during the experiments. In experiment 1, average daily gains of beef heifers were (P<0.05) affected by the interaction of implant and source of dietary Zn. Compared to control and ZnSO4 treatments, supplementation with Zn-Met increased (P<0.05) the concentration of Zn in serum. Antibody titers and concentrations of IgG in serum were highest (P<0.05) in heifers fed ZnSO4 compared to heifers fed the control or Zn-Met supplemented diets. The Synovex-H® implant reduced the concentrations of Zn and Cu in liver. In experiment 2, Synovex-S® implants improved (P<0.05) weight gains of steers supplemented with 200ppm dietary Zn from ZnSO4 compared to non-implanted steers. However, the implant had no effect when Zn-Met was the dietary Zn source. The implant increased (P<0.05) concentrations of Zn in liver of steers supplemented with 200ppm dietary Zn and reduced Zn in liver of steers fed the control diet. Implanted steers had higher (P<0.05) Cu status and IgG concentrations in serum than non-implanted steers. Steers supplemented with either ZnSO4 or Zn-Met had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of Zn in liver and plasma than steers fed the control diet. These results indicate both the level and source of Zn supplementation in diets of feedlot cattle affect their response to growth implants.

gust: 38.9 vs.39.2◦C). Daily diurnal ranges and partial differences were lower for MYCW than NC cows in June (1.13 and 0.64 vs. 1.40 and 0.84◦C; P < 0.05) and August (1.11 and 0.54 vs. 1.29 and 0.70◦C; P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, temperature differences between MYCW and PC cows also tended to support MYCW supplementation as a potential means of alleviating the problem of elevated body temperature associated with fescue toxicosis.

Three hundred multiparous Holstein cows (150 cows per treatment) were blocked according to calving date and randomly assigned to a study to determine the effect of trace mineral source on incidence and severity of claw lesions, reproduction, and lactation performance of dairy cattle. Treatments were 1) all trace minerals supplied by sulfates(ITM)or 2) 360mg Zn from Zn amino acid complex, 200mg Mn from Mn amino acid complex, 125mg Cu from Cu amino acid complex, and 12mg Co from Co glucoheptonate per day(CTM;Availa®; Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) replacing an equivalent amount of Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co from sulfates. Cows received assigned treatments from 21 d prior to calving through 250 d of lactation. Cows fed CTM produced 1.2kg more (P < 0.05) milk, energy-corrected milk, and 3.5% fat-corrected milk than cows supplemented with ITM. The CTM treatment reduced (P < 0.05) days open by 22 d and tended to increase (P < 0.15) percentage of cows pregnant by 150 d in milk (54.8% vs 42.7%) and first service conception rate (27.4% vs 18.4%). Cows fed CTM tended to have a lesser incidence (P < 0.15) of claw disorders than cows fed inorganic trace minerals at 75 d postpartum (23.6% vs 34.1%) and numerically lower incidence at 250 d postpartum (10.0% vs 17.7%). The CTM treatment increased yield of milk, decreased days open, and tended to increase first service conception rates, increase percentage of cows pregnant at 150 d in milk, and decrease claw disorders at 75 d postpartum.

influences of dietary NDF residuals (resNDF, sd = 3.0 ) was negative for kp (reskp = 0.059 resNDF, rsd = 0.4) and positive for MAST (resMAST = 0.088 resNDF, rsd = 0.9). For DMI the corresponding relationships were: reskp = 1.03 resDMI, rsd = 0.4; resMAST = 0.73 resDMI, rsd = 1.0. The influences of DMI and NDF remained similar among and within experiments for kp but not for MAST. When DMI decreased as dietary fill (as indicated by NDF and MAST) increased among experiments there was a mean decrease of kp of 0.26 %/h per hour of increase of MAST. In contrast, within the same experiments there was an increase of kp of 0.12 %/h per hour of increase of MAST.

Thirty-one Debouillet ewe lambs were exposed to elevated dietary copper (Cu) after being fed pelleted alfalfa from two separate feed mills which contained 33 and 45 ppm Cu. After consuming about 5.5 lb/day of this diet for approximately 50 days, signs of Cu poisoning became apparent (hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria). Cu toxicity was confirmed by a liver Cu concentration of 439 ± 36 (mean± SE) ppm in five dead animals. During the course of Cu exposure, eight of 31 ewe lambs died. Serum was collected from 10 ewe lambs showing extreme signs of Cu poisoning. Total, direct, and indirect bilirubin, and creatine kinase ( CK) were elevated in ewes consuming Cu. Ten extremely affected ewe lambs that had stopped consuming any feed received gelatin capsules (gavage) containing about 2 oz of a livestock salt/gypsum (76% calcium sulfate) mixture (2:1, weight basis) daily for 10 days. After 10 days of calcium sulfate treatment, serum bilirubin and CK were at or near normal concentrations and neither hemoglobinemia nor hemglobinuria were observed. Calcium sulfate administered in gelatin capsules appears to aid in the treatment of acute Cu toxicosis in sheep.

Performance, immune response, and liver trace mineral status were measured in growing heifers supplemented with different copper (Cu) concentrations and sources when diets contained the Cu antagonists Mo, S, and Fe. Sixty Angus x Hereford heifers were managed in two groups for 112 d and were either individually fed diets and mineral treatments using individual feeding stalls (Stall) or pen-fed grass hay and individually supplemented mineral treatments (Pen). The basal diet of grass hay, rolled barley, and soybean meal was analyzed to contain 6 mg Cu/kg DM. The treatments consisted of 1) no supplemental Cu (Control); 2) 49 mg Cu/kg DM from Cu sulfate (i.e. approximately five times NRC recommendation for Cu from CuSO4) (5X-SO4); 3). 22 mg Cu/kg DM from CuSO4 (2X-SO4); 4). 22 mg Cu/kg DM from a combination of 50% CuSO4 and 50% Cu-amino acid complex (50-50); and 5). 22 mg Cu/kg DM from a combination of 25% CuSO4, 50% Cu-amino acid complex, and 25% Cu oxide (CuG) (25-50-25). All heifers were supplemented with the Cu antagonists Mo (10 mg/kg DM), S (2,900 mg/kg DM), and Fe (500 mg/kg DM). These diets resulted in dietary Cu:Mo ratios that averaged 0.5:1 for Control, 4.5:1 for the 5X-SO4, and 2.4:1 for 2X-SO4, 50-50, and 25-50-25. Rate and efficiencies of gain and cell-mediated immune function were not different (P > 0.10) among treatments. Data suggest supplements containing combinations of inorganic and complexed Cu interacted differently in the presence of Mo, S, and Fe. Heifers consuming the 25-50-25 supplement in the Stall group initially lost hepatic Cu rapidly but this loss slowed from d 50 to d 100 compared to the Control (P = 0.07), 50-50 (P < 0.05), and 2X-SO4 (P < 0.05) heifers and was similar (P > 0.10) to that in the 5X-SO4 heifers. In the Pen group, total hepatic Cu loss tended to be greater for 25-50-25 and 2X-SO4 compared to 5X-SO4 heifers (P = 0.09 and P = 0.06, respectively); Cu loss in the 50-50 heifers was similar (P > 0.10) to that in the 5X-SO4 heifers. This suggests that supplementing combinations of inorganic and amino acid-complexed Cu was as effective in limiting hepatic Cu loss during antagonism as was increasing dietary Cu levels to five times the NRC recommendation. A combination of 25% CuSO4 , 50% Cu-amino acid complex, and 25% CuO limited liver accumulation of Mo compared to supplements without CuO and could provide a strategic supplementation tool in limiting the systemic effects of Cu antagonism in beef cattle.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether the supplementation of Cu in the organic or inorganic form to 2-yr-old cows, before and after calving, affects reproduction rate, calf health and performance, passive transfer of immunoglobulin, or liver and serum Cu concentrations compared with unsupplemented controls. Cows (n = 75 in 1997; n = 120 in 1998) were randomly assigned by estimated calving date and body condition score to one of three treatments: 1) Control, control; 2) Inorganic, inorganic Cu supplement (200 mg Cu from CuSO4); 3) Organic, organic Cu supplement (100 mg Cu from AvailaCu). In 1998, a fourth treatment was added; 4) CU-ZN, organic Cu and Zn (400 mg Zn from AvailaZn in the Organic diet). Cows were fed a hay-based diet and individually fed supplements for approximately 45 d before and 60 d after calving (approximately January 15 to May 15 each year). Liver biopsies were obtained from cows before supplementation began, and from cows and calves at 10 and 30 d after calving. Blood samples were obtained from both cows and calves at calving, and colostrum samples were collected for IgG and mineral content. Cow liver Cu concentrations before supplementation began were 58 mg/kg in 1997 and 40 mg/kg (DM basis) in 1998. By 10 d after calving, liver Cu concentrations of Control cows had decreased (P < 0.05) to 24 mg/kg (Cu deficient) in both years, whereas liver Cu concentrations of Cu-supplemented cows increased (P < 0.05) in both years. Calf liver Cu concentrations at 10 d of age were similar (P > 0.10) for all treatment groups. No differences (P > 0.10) were found in colostrum Cu concentrations, or in calf health among treatments. No differences (P > 0.10) were found in cow BW change, calf serum Cu concentrations, calf weaning weights, or in cow 60-d pregnancy rates among treatments in either year. In 1998, cows in the Organic group had higher (P < 0.05) 30-d pregnancy rate than Control cows. Neither serum samples nor placental tissue were reliable indicators of Cu status in cows. Feeding supplemental Cu (either inorganic, organic, or organic with extra Zn) to cows with liver Cu concentrations of approximately 50 mg/kg before calving did not improve cow 60-d pregnancy rates or the health and performance of their calves when compared with unsupplemented cows.

Chromium is an essential nutrient that potentiates insulin action and thus influences carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism and influences growth and reproductive performance of pigs. Three studies were conducted to determine the effects of adding Cr form chromium-L-methionine (CrMet) to diets of sows and growing pigs. In study one, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) and an intravenous insulin challenge test (IVICT) were conducted. During the IVGTT, incremental inclusion of CrMet increased glucose clearance rate (linear effect, P =.036). Area under the glucose curve during the IVICT from 0-30 min was lowered (linear effect, P = .004) by incremental inclusion of CrMet. In study two, CrMet (400 ppm Cr) fed to growing and finishing pigs reduced (P < .05) tenth rib fat depth and increased (P < .05) loin eye area and lean meat percentage. In study three, sows fed CrMet had one more pig per litter in the farrowing following treatment compared to control sows (P < .05). In addition, sows fed Cr tended to lose less weight and produce heavier piglets during the lactation period.