Improve reproductive outcomes with trace mineral nutrition

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — In cow-calf operations, reproductive success comes down to timing. A calf born just a few weeks earlier can mean significantly more weight at weaning, tighter calving groups and improved lifetime performance.

“More calves born earlier in the calving season is the No. 1 thing we can do to drive positive economic outcomes,” said Clay Burson, associate beef technical specialist for Zinpro.

“Based on current market value, backing a calf up just one calving period can cost more than $150 per head and nearly $380 per head if delayed further, driven largely by lost weaning weight.”

Trace mineral nutrition plays a critical role in the biological processes that drive fertility and conception.

Mineral’s Role In Reproductive Performance

“We have a real challenge in the beef industry with early embryonic mortality,” Burson said. “We lose a lot of pregnancies and back cows up in the calving season.”

Research on embryo retention has shown measurable improvements when optimizing trace mineral strategies. In some cases, embryo retention improved by up to 18% during early gestation, helping more pregnancies carry through critical early stages.

Studies have also demonstrated improvements in first-service AI conception rates. Even modest gains can meaningfully shift more cows into earlier calving groups.

“Getting her bred the first time is great,” Burson said. “Having more calves born earlier is even better.”

Over time, these reproductive improvements contribute to greater herd longevity and consistency.

“Keeping a cow in the herd year after year and keeping her on the front end of the calving season is the key to unlocking profitability,” Burson said.

Those improvements depend not just on what is fed, but how effectively those nutrients are delivered and used.

Getting Minerals Where They Matter

Trace minerals play a critical role at the cellular level, supporting processes such as enzyme activity, protein synthesis and tissue development.

When trace minerals are effectively absorbed, those cellular functions translate into measurable reproductive outcomes.

“If we feed a great quality trace mineral source and get it to the cell where it’s needed, that leads to things we can measure — more cows bred, healthier cattle and ultimately positive economic outcomes,” Burson said.

However, not all trace mineral sources behave the same in the digestive system. Form, stability and interactions with other diet ingredients can influence how much is ultimately utilized.

“It’s not just about being available to the animal, but actually eliciting a positive response in performance,” Burson said.

In some cases, antagonisms in the diet or environment can limit trace mineral absorption, reducing effectiveness.

This reinforces the importance of bioefficacy when choosing a trace mineral source, especially during stressful periods like reproduction.

From Preventing Deficiency To Supporting Performance

In addition to trace mineral source, it’s also important to consider inclusion levels, particularly when the goal is to support reproductive performance.

“The baseline nutrient requirements for trace minerals were put together 30 or 40 years ago and are designed to prevent signs of deficiency, not to optimize performance,” Burson said.

However, today’s beef cow is not the same as it was decades ago. It is larger, consumes more feed and produces more milk, placing greater demands on the biological processes tied to fertility, conception and pregnancy maintenance.

“Trace minerals such as Zinpro Availa Zn play a key role in supporting those processes, influencing hundreds of enzyme systems and thousands of metabolic pathways that impact reproduction and overall performance,” Burson said.

To better support reproductive outcomes, trace mineral strategies should move beyond simply preventing deficiency and instead align inclusion levels with today’s production demands.

Trace minerals play a critical role in supporting fertility, conception and pregnancy retention. When aligned with overall nutrition and management, they can help drive earlier conception, maintain pregnancies and improve herd productivity.