Cattle Nutrition: Minerals Matter

Minerals are a small, but mighty, nutrient requirement for cattle. These elements cannot be made by the body and they are essential for proper function of the skeletal, immune, and muscular systems. Imagine that the major nutrients, such as carbohydrates and protein, are the bricks in a wall. Minerals can be viewed as the mortar that holds the wall together, playing a supportive role in using those major nutrients. Minerals matter, but it can sometimes be complicated to put your finger on exactly what you need in a mineral program. Mineral availability in pasture and hay forages fluctuates according to the season, fertilizer application, weather conditions, forage species, and other factors. Cattle mineral requirements also fluctuate with growth and stage of production. While cattle get minerals from the diet, we often recommend providing a complete mineral program year-round, just to be sure that minerals are being provided at the appropriate level in the diet.

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