Abstract
<h2>ABSTRACT</h2> The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of supplementing a blend of chelated Zn-(2-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoic acid; HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, Cu-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, and Mn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub> to feedlot cattle with access to drinking well water that contains high levels of sulfate (1,646 mg/kg). A total of 640 weaned calves with an average BW of 192 ± 12kg were allocated to 4 pens per treatment in a randomized complete block design and fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with 37, 17.5, and 15.2 mg/kg of Zn from Zn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, Cu from Cu-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, and Mn from Mn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, respectively, for the entire feedlot period (267 d). Average daily gain, feed intake and gain to feed ratio were not affected by treatment. However, cattle fed Zn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, Cu-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, and Mn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub> exhibited less mortality (4.7 vs. 2.44%; P=0.05) and morbidity (47.1 vs. 37.8%; P=0.06). Carcass quality was improved by reducing the dark-cutting carcasses from 3.59 to 0.77% (P = 0.02) and fat deposition from kidney, pelvic, and heart area (P = 0.05). From this study, we concluded that supplementation of Zn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, Cu-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, and Mn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub> to feedlot cattle with access to water with high sulfate concentration improved health and carcass quality. The net economic improvement of adding Zn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, C-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub>, and Mn-(HMTBA)<sub>2</sub> to feedlot cattle diets represented $17.96 per head savings in cattle health and carcass performance when compared with controls.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
