Injectable trace minerals administered on arrival to highly stressed beef calves may improve health and performance during the critical receiving period. Crossbred beef heifers (n = 90; initial BW = 199 ± 6.4 kg) were obtained from auction markets, blocked by BW, and assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) s.c. injection of trace mineral solution containing Zn (20 mg/mL), Mn (20 mg/mL), Cu (10 mg/mL), and Se (5 mg/mL) (TM1; 1 mL/45.5 kg); 2) s.c. injection of trace mineral solution containing Zn (48 mg/mL), Mn (10 mg/ mL), Cu (16 mg/mL), and Se (5 mg/ mL) (TM2; 1 mL/45.5 kg); or 3) negative control (CON). Calves were offered ad libitum access to a common diet and were evaluated daily for clinical signs of bovine respiratory disease. Overall ADG was greater (P < 0.01) for calves receiving either trace mineral injection compared with CON; however, ADG did not differ (P = 0.59) between the 2 mineral treatments. Total DMI was greater (P = 0.01) for TM1 and TM2 than for CON. Total G:F was also improved (P = 0.02) for the 2 trace mineral treatments. Calves receiving TM1 and TM2 gained 0.18 and 0.19 kg, respectively, per kilogram of feed consumed; CON gained 0.16 kg per kilogram of feed consumed. Calves administered TM1 had reduced (P = 0.02) bovine respiratory disease morbidity rates compared with CON, with TM2 being intermediate. Antibiotic treatment cost was greater (P = 0.03) for CON than for TM1 or TM2. Administration of a trace mineral injection during initial processing of highly stressed, newly received heifers improved ADG, feed efficiency, bovine respiratory disease morbidity, and antibiotic treatment cost.