Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers
There is a lack of information on mineral interactions that take place during a heifer’s pregnancy when nutrient demand is high. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interactions between the macro minerals calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), sodium (Na) and p...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Raquel S. Dias Betini Secundino López Yuri R. Montanholi James France |
| author_facet | Raquel S. Dias Betini Secundino López Yuri R. Montanholi James France |
| author_sort | Raquel S. Dias Betini |
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| description | There is a lack of information on mineral interactions that take place during a heifer’s pregnancy when nutrient demand is high. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interactions between the macro minerals calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) and the trace elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and cobalt (Co) in pregnant heifers. Twenty-four pregnant heifers (age 18.2 ± 0.14 months; 87.5 ± 4.74 days in gestation; 497 ± 8.5 kg of body weight) were used in a 7 d digestibility trial (indirect method using lignin as a marker) during which they were fed a diet that provided minerals in accordance with NASEM requirements for gestating beef cattle. At the end of the digestibility trial, blood (jugular venipuncture) and liver (biopsy) samples were collected from each heifer. Multiple linear regression models were developed based on the main correlations and by considering collinearity effects between variables. Iron intake positively affected Mo concentration in serum, which was >10 µg/dL for most of the animals. Apparent absorption of Fe was negatively affected by Mo intake and Ca to P ratio in feed, whereas Se absorption was negatively affected by Fe intake and positively by Mo intake. The absorption coefficients of Mo and Fe were inversely related, emphasizing the interactions between these elements. Serum Fe and Cu in the liver were positively correlated, while liver Fe was inversely related to liver Mn. Fewer interactions were observed between the macro minerals. In conclusion, within the interactions observed, those between Fe and Mo deserve special attention, as high dietary Fe is commonly found in typical ruminant diets, and high serum Mo may indicate molybdenosis. Furthermore, high Fe intake appears to impact Se and Mn utilization. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-9ebd19741713466ea88dcaa25fef15b22025-01-24T13:15:58ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-01-0115216710.3390/agriculture15020167Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant HeifersRaquel S. Dias Betini0Secundino López1Yuri R. Montanholi2James France3Centre for Nutrition Modelling, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaDepartamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de León, 24007 León, SpainCentre for Nutrition Modelling, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaCentre for Nutrition Modelling, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, CanadaThere is a lack of information on mineral interactions that take place during a heifer’s pregnancy when nutrient demand is high. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interactions between the macro minerals calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) and the trace elements copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and cobalt (Co) in pregnant heifers. Twenty-four pregnant heifers (age 18.2 ± 0.14 months; 87.5 ± 4.74 days in gestation; 497 ± 8.5 kg of body weight) were used in a 7 d digestibility trial (indirect method using lignin as a marker) during which they were fed a diet that provided minerals in accordance with NASEM requirements for gestating beef cattle. At the end of the digestibility trial, blood (jugular venipuncture) and liver (biopsy) samples were collected from each heifer. Multiple linear regression models were developed based on the main correlations and by considering collinearity effects between variables. Iron intake positively affected Mo concentration in serum, which was >10 µg/dL for most of the animals. Apparent absorption of Fe was negatively affected by Mo intake and Ca to P ratio in feed, whereas Se absorption was negatively affected by Fe intake and positively by Mo intake. The absorption coefficients of Mo and Fe were inversely related, emphasizing the interactions between these elements. Serum Fe and Cu in the liver were positively correlated, while liver Fe was inversely related to liver Mn. Fewer interactions were observed between the macro minerals. In conclusion, within the interactions observed, those between Fe and Mo deserve special attention, as high dietary Fe is commonly found in typical ruminant diets, and high serum Mo may indicate molybdenosis. Furthermore, high Fe intake appears to impact Se and Mn utilization.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/167beef heifermacro elementsmineral interactionpregnancymicronutrientessential mineral |
| spellingShingle | Raquel S. Dias Betini Secundino López Yuri R. Montanholi James France Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers Agriculture beef heifer macro elements mineral interaction pregnancy micronutrient essential mineral |
| title | Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers |
| title_full | Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers |
| title_fullStr | Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers |
| title_short | Interactions Between Trace Elements and Macro Minerals in Pregnant Heifers |
| title_sort | interactions between trace elements and macro minerals in pregnant heifers |
| topic | beef heifer macro elements mineral interaction pregnancy micronutrient essential mineral |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/2/167 |
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