Maternal Injectable Mineral Administration Effects on Calf Growth and Reproductive Parameters

Abstract

Limited trace mineral research has focused on the impacts of maternal trace mineral supplementation on offspring fertility. We hypothesized that maternal injectable mineral (INJ) administration during mid/late gestation would improve overall growth and reproductive parameters in offspring. Two-hundred and seventy-eight cows were enrolled in the study and blocked by body weight, parity, and day (d) of gestation, and randomly assigned to a treatment group: a group (MM, <i>n</i> = 138) that received a single INJ (Cu = 15 mg/mL, Mn = 10 mg/mL, Se = 5 mg/mL, and Zn = 60 mg/mL; Axiota, Ft. Collins, CO, USA) or control group (CON, <i>n</i> = 138), which did not. Following calving, adjusted birth weight and weaning weights were recorded. A subset of bulls was developed until one year of age (CON, <i>n</i> = 18; MM, <i>n</i> = 14) when two semen ejaculates were collected for sperm quality. Mineral injection calves were heavier at birth than CON (<i>p</i> = 0.05). A treatment by parity interaction was observed for an increase in progressive motility in MM bulls than CON (<i>p</i> = 0.10). Injectable mineral administration to the pregnant multiparous cow improved sperm progressive motility in bulls, but no improvements were observed when assessed via flow cytometry.