ABSTRACT Previous research has established that trace minerals are necessary for optimal growth and immunity, yet challenges exist with intake of dietary trace minerals in cattle newly received at feedlots. A total of 128 crossbred beef bull (n = 40) and steer (n = 88) calves were used for this 42-d receiving study. Cattle were stratified by initial BW (275 ± 9.54 kg) and sex (steer or bull) and then assigned equivalently to treatment pens (n = 8 per treatment). Treatments were (1) negative control (CON) or (2) injectable trace mineral solution containing 60 mg of Zn/mL (as Zn disodium EDTA), 10 mg of Mn/mL (as Mn disodium EDTA), 5 mg of Se/mL (as sodium selenite), and 15 mg of Cu/mL (as Cu disodium EDTA) administered s.c. at 2.2 mL/100 kg of BW on d 0 (ITM). Health was monitored daily by trained personnel blinded to treatment pen assignment. Blood samples and BW were obtained on d 0, 14, 28, and 42 to determine bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1a antibody titer and gain performance. Standard processing procedures were applied on d 0, including administration of a respiratory vaccine containing modified-live BVDV antigens. No difference in overall ADG (P = 0.21) was detected between CON (1.36) and ITM (1.25 kg/d) steers. Overall DMI was not different (P = 0.83) between CON (6.98) and ITM (7.02 kg/d), but G:F tended (P = 0.08) to be less for ITM from d 28 to 42. The morbidity rate observed in this study was low (14% average), and there was no difference (P = 0.71) in morbidity between treatments, which averaged 15.6 and 12.5% for CON and ITM, respectively. There was a treatment × d interaction (P = 0.09) for BVDV-specific antibody titer. On d 14, ITM had a greater (P = 0.02) BVDV antibody titer than CON. These data suggest that ITM did not improve performance or morbidity when the incidence was low; however, the BVDV-specific antibody response to a respiratory vaccine was greater for ITM on d 14.