PSVIII-6 Impact of Naturally Occurring Water with High Sulfate Concentration on Feed and Water Intake, Growth, and Trace Mineral Status of Beef Cattle

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the impact of naturally occurring water with a high-sulfate concentration on dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, growth, and trace mineral status of yearling beef heifers. Angus-based heifers (n = 48; 398.4 ± 22.1 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 12 pens (4 heifers/pen) and fed for 100 d arranged into 25 d periods. Heifers were provided water containing 350 (CON); 2,300 (MEDS); or 4,300 mg/L (HIGHS) sulfate. Concentrated water (71,482 mg/L sulfate) from natural source was collected and blended to achieve the treatments. All data were analyzed using the fixed effects of treatment, period (d 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, and 76-100), and the treatment × period interaction, with period as a repeated measure. Average daily gain, and gain-to-feed were not affected (P>0.29). Provision of HIGHS decreased (interaction, P< 0.01) DMI from d 1-25, 26-50 and 51-75, with no effect from d 76-100 compared with CON. Heifers drinking CON and MEDS during d 26-50 had greater (interaction, P< 0.01) water intake than HIGHS with no differences among treatments otherwise. Total sulfate intake (g/d) was greater for HIGHS, followed by MEDS and CON with a greater difference between treatments during d 26-50 (interaction, P< 0.01). Heifers provided MEDS and HIGHS had a greater (interaction, P< 0.01) reduction in serum copper compared with CON. Liver copper concentration did not differ at the start of the study but was 74% and 62% of CON for MEDS and HIGHS, respectively at the end of the study (interaction, P< 0.01). Serum selenium was greater for MEDS and HIGHS than CON; while liver selenium was least for HIGHS heifers at the end of the study (interaction, P< 0.01). These data highlight that beef heifers were able to tolerate 213 g/d of sulfate intake with no negative impact on growth performance; however, MEDS and HIGHS decreased liver copper and liver selenium concentrations.