Effects of Maternal Supplementation with Organic Trace Minerals including Zinc, Manganese, Copper, and Cobalt during the Late and Post-Partum Periods on the Health and Immune Status of Japanese Black Calves

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the effects of supplementation of the maternal diet with organic trace minerals including Zn (zinc), Mn (manganese), Cu (copper), and Co (cobalt) on the health and immune status of beef calves. We examined 19 pregnant cows, which were divided into a group of 9 cows fed a basal diet (control) and 10 cows fed a diet with organic trace minerals (treated). Cows were fed for a period of 45 days before the predicted calving date until 45 days after calving. The number of treatments needed for respiratory and digestive diseases within 14 days of birth was significantly lower in the treated group (p p + and CD8+ cells in the treated group on days 30 and 60 were significantly increased (p p + cells in the treated group on days 30 and 60 was significantly increased (p + cells on day 60 (p p p < 0.05) on days 1 and 60. The results indicate that maternal supplementation with trace minerals is a promising approach for producing highly disease-resistant calves and enhancing calf immunity.

Keywords

• immunity
• Japanese black calf
• late gestation
• respiratory disease
• trace minerals