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Mineral and Vitamin Nutrition of Dairy Cattle

Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602

ABSTRACT

During the last quarter century progress has been great in methodology for mineral and nutrition research, especially as it relates to analytical instrumentation and use of radioactive isotopes. Vastly greater numbers of both research and farmer samples are analyzed now for mineral elements resulting in much better understanding of variability of content of feeds. Important progress has been made in dairy cattle in understanding the nutrition and metabolism of certain mineral elements including zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, manganese, iron, magnesium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, phosphorus, and sulfur. Substantial interest and work have developed or been renewed in metabolism of toxic or potentially toxic elements including cadmium, mercury, nickel, and fluorine. Also, much greater interest has developed on adverse effects of excessive amounts of essential elements. Because of the practical importance of grass tetany, magnesium research has been an area of considerable work. Some new or expanded concepts have contributed materially to understanding metabolism of mineral elements. Among these is a much better understanding of the role of homeostasis of minerals. This has been especially useful in interpreting both old and new research data. For instance, knowledge of routes of homeo-static control is crucial to understand research related to calcium requirement of dairy cattle.

The interrelationship between mineral elements and vitamins has been among prominent accomplishments of this 25 yr.

Especially noteworthy is that between selenium and vitamin E and the role of vitamin D in calcium metabolism. Progress has been great in understanding a few aspects of vitamin nutrition and metabolism of which work on functional forms of vitamin D is a notable example.