Comparison of multiple single-use, pulse-dose trace mineral products provided as injectable, oral drench, oral paste, or bolus on circulating and liver trace mineral concentrations of beef steers

Objective: The objective was to determine effects of various trace mineral products on steer plasma and liver trace mineral concentrations. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six trace mineral adequate Angus-cross steers (303 ± 15.2 kg; n = 8 per treatment) were sorted by BW and administered treatments on d 0: injectable saline (CON), injectable Multimin90 (ITM), Mineral Max Drench (MMD), Mineral Max Paste (MMP), Starting Fluid Drench (SFD), Se365 bolus (Se365), or Reloader250 bolus (Rel250). Steers received a common diet (silage-based diet d 0–49; corn-based diet d 50–122), and individual feed disappearance was recorded. Plasma (0, 8, 24, and 48 h) and liver (−7, 2, 15, 29, 49, 65, 91, and 120 d) were analyzed for Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn. Results and Discussion: Plasma Zn, Mn, and Se concentrations were affected by treatment × time (P = 0.001); steers given ITM had greater concentrations through 8 h for Zn and 24 h for Mn and Se versus other treatments. Liver Se concentration was greater in ITM versus other treatments through d 15, but Rel250 was greater than ITM and MMP on d 91 and greater than CON, MMD, MMP, and SFD on d 120 (treatment × time; P ≤ 0.001). Liver Mn, Zn, and Cu were affected by time (P ≤ 0.001), where liver Mn concentrations were least on d 2 and increased over time but liver Zn concentrations were greatest on d 2 and least on d 29 to 120. Implications and Applications: Single-use, pulse-dose products increased circulating trace minerals most quickly as an injection (increasing plasma Mn, Se, Zn) compared with other treatments, whereas liver Se concentrations were increased by injection (through d 29) and Rel250 (by d 91).