The total mineral, or ash, content of the animal body represents a very small percentage of the total dry matter.
A number of inorganic elements are essential for normal growth and reproduction of animals.
Requirements for minerals are typically determined on metabolism or growth studies or from retention plus calculated absorption values.
Based on body composition of the bovine on ‘fat free’ basis, the composition was 72.9% water, 21.6 % protein and 5.3% ash. In addition, there is a very small amount of carbohydrate, which is found primarily in the liver muscle and blood.
Mineral requirements of beef cattle can be grouped into major and trace mineral categories. However, trace minerals are needed in much lower concentrations and are usually designated by parts per million units.
Approximately 90% of the calcium and 70% of the phosphorus, plus magnesium, sulfur, sodium and chlorine are utilized in the bone and in cartilaginous organic matrix.
Thus, major consideration should be given to them during diet formulation.
Reasonably large quantities of phosphorus, potassium and sulfur are involved in muscle and gland tissues; sodium, potassium and chlorine, plus other elements, are in solution in the body fluids which establish pH and are involved in secretions, osmotic pressure and the irritability of the nerves and contractility of the muscles.
Trace minerals are extremely important nutrients, even though they are required in small amounts. Inadequate trace minerals consumption has been shown to affect reproduction performance, disease resistance, growth and thriftiness. The trace minerals include cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc, and perhaps chromium and fluorine.
The trace minerals are present in body tissues is very low concentrations and often serve as components of metalloenzymes and enzyme cofactors or as components of hormones of the endocrine system.
Excesses of certain minerals may depress feed intake and growth rate.
Minerals requirement for beef cattle
