Mineral status of grazing beef cattle in the warm climate region of Florida.

An experiment was conducted to determine the mineral status of purebred Brahman beef cattle grazing Bermuda--Bahia pastures grown on sandy, well-drained soils in Central Florida. Soil, plant, blood serum and liver tissue concentrations of calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, manganese and cobalt were generally adequate. Sixty-nine per cent of forages and 40% of serum samples were deficient in phosphorus. Seventy-five per cent of soils, 38% of forages and 18% of liver samples were deficient in copper. Sixty-nine per cent of forage samples were low, less than 30 ppm, in iron. All samples of forage, liver and serum were deficient in selenium. Likewise, all soil and forage samples and 47 and 88% of serum and liver samples, respectively, were deficient in zinc. Mineral elements most likely deficient and needed in supplements for grazing cattle on sandy, well-drained soils in the warm climate region of Central Florida are phosphorus, copper, selenium and zinc.

Mineral status of llamas and sheep in the Bolivian Altiplano.

An experiment was conducted in the highlands (Altiplano) of Bolivia to establish the specific mineral status for growing llamas compared to sheep grazing unfertilized, native pastures. Animal tissues (plasma, liver and bone), forage and soil samples were collected during the wet and dry seasons and analyzed for mineral contents. During the wet season, forages were higher (P less than 0.05) in Ca, K, Fe and protein. Percent borderline to deficient forage concentrations during the wet and dry seasons, respectively, were found as follows: protein (less than 7.0%) 20 and 53; CCa (less than 0.30%) 10 and 40; Cu (less than 5 ppm) 20 and 47; K (less than 0.5%) 10 and 20; Mg (less than 0.08%) 10 and 20; Na (less than 0.1%) 30 and 69; P (less than 0.25%) 100 and 100; Zn (less than 30 ppm) 60 and 80; and Se (less than 0.1 ppm) 90 and 93% of the total forages, respectively. Concentrations of liver Mg, Co, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn, plasma Mg and Cu and rib (percent ash) Ca, Mg and P were all higher (P less than 0.05) during the wet than in the dry season. Compared to llamas, sheep had higher (P les than 0.05) concentrations of plasma Ca, Cu, Fe and Zn, rib (milligram/milliliter) P, Mg and Zn and liver Fe, but lower (P less than 0.05) concentrations of liver Co, Cu, Mn and MO. On the basis of forage and animal tissue analyses, the nutrients protein, P, Ca, Zn, Na and Se would be insufficient for optimum production of grazing livestock in the high plains of Bolivia.

Evaluating the nutritional status of beef cattle herds from four soil order regions of Florida. I. Macroelements, protein, carotene, vitamins A and E, hemoglobin and hematocrit.

The nutrient status of grazing beef cattle from four selected soil order regions of Florida was examined. Liver, blood, hair and feces samples from 14 heifers and 14 cows, plus forage samples, were collected during two periods of the year from nine ranches located in four different regions. Soil samples were collected during one period. The soil order regions were the Histosol (southeast), Spodosol (southwest), Entisol (central) and Ultisol (northwest). Mean forage P values were higher (P less than .05) in the wet season, while mean hair P levels were higher (P less than .05) during the dry season. Mean forage, plasma, liver and hair Mg values were higher (P less than .05) in the wet season. Plasma vitamin E, liver vitamin A and forage carotene levels were higher (P less than .05) during the wet season. Mean forage P content was deficient (less than .25%) during both seasons and varied from .10% in the dry season to .16% during the wet season. Mean forage Mg (less than .18%) and K (less than .60%) concentrations were deficient in the dry season. Forage protein was deficient (less than 7.0%) in five of seven ranches during the dry season. Extractable soil Ca, exchangeable soil Ca, Mn, Al, H+, soil organic matter and effective cation exchange capacity were higher (P less than .05) in the Histosol region. Extractable soil K was low (60 ppm) in all regions, except the northwest. Forage P was critical (less than .25%) during the dry season in all regions and varied from .08 to .15%, while plasma P was deficient (4.5 mg/100 ml) in animals from the southeast during the dry season only.

Evaluating the nutritional status of beef cattle herds from four soil order regions of Florida. II. Trace minerals.

An experiment was conducted to determine the trace mineral status of grazing cattle from four selected soil type regions in Florida. Animal tissue, forage and soil samples were collected during the wet (September-October) and dry (February-March) seasons from nine ranches located in four different regions. On the basis of reported critical forage levels, mean forage Co (less than .1 ppm), Zn (less than 30 ppm) and Se (less than .1 ppm) and liver and hair Se (less than .25 ppm), were low during both seasons. Soil Se (less than .50 ppm) and extractable soil Zn (less than 1.5 ppm) were low in all regions except the southeast. Mean forage Se was low in all regions. Of all animals studied in the wet season, 36 and 32% had low liver Cu (less than 75 ppm) and Se (less than .25 ppm) concentrations, respectively. In the dry season, 20 and 39% of the animals had low liver Cu and Se concentrations, respectively. Hair Se was low (less than .25 ppm) in 90% of the samples during the wet season and in 100% during the dry season. During the wet season, forage Zn, Mn, Co and Se were low in 89, 26, 63 and 84% of the samples, respectively, while extractable (double acid) Zn, Mn, Co and total Se were low in 57, 79, 63 and 100% of the soils, respectively. In the dry season, 80, 20, 40 and 80% of forages were low in Zn, Mn, Co and Se, respectively. Of the seven trace minerals studied, Se and Zn are most likely to be deficient, with Co and Cu insufficiency probable in selected areas.

Inappetence in ruminants as a measure of fluoride solubility in various phosphates.

Experiments with soft phosphate and fertilizer grade concentrated superphosphate and diammonium phosphate were to measure effects on voluntary intake of their fluoride in relation to that from calcium fluoride and sodium fluoride given once daily by capsule. Mature wethers were offered 1200 or 1400 g daily of mixed grain-roughage diet, and responses to fluoride were measured by inappetence, consumption of less than 10% of offered diet. When 40 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride was given for 2 days, inappetence resulted, whereas 2,400 ppm fluoride as calcium fluoride did not decrease feed intake. Time required for recovery of appetite increased with more fluoride. When soft phosphate, concentrated superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate were tested at 100, 200, and 400 ppm fluoride, inappetence occurred always but severity of reduction of intake was related to parts per million fluoride. Solubility of fluoride in soft phosphate, concentrated superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate is more similar to sodium fluoride than to calcium fluoride, and their use should be in keeping with fluoride tolerances established for ruminants fed sodium fluoride.