Trace Minerals and their Responses in Dairy Cattle: A Review

The current dairy revolution demands more effective production in every aspects for which nutrition plays a great role in production and reproduction sustainability. For maintaining a good dairy enterprise and have steady income, it is essential to have the animals with good reproductive status with balanced nutrients in their diet. Most dairy research tends to focus on protein and energy needs, and trace minerals are often overlooked. Though, different forms of organicminerals differ in their solubility, availability and effect on animal performance and benefits appear to be more promising in the non-ruminants than in the ruminants, there is almost a consensus that organic trace minerals have higher bioavailability resulting in better animal performance, health, production immune response and stress alleviation than their inorganic salts. High yielding dairy cow requires quality feed with organic minerals and hence the bioavailability of these minerals form an essential component in the production system. Organic trace minerals consist of the same trace minerals being chelated, complexed or covalently bonded to amino acids, analogues, proteins or organic acids in a way that allows for increased absorption in the animal. In this context, organic (chelated) trace minerals can be a better solution compared to other feeding inventions. It is concluded that minerals from organic sources have higher bioavailability than inorganic sources. In dairy animals, majority of factors like nutrient intake, physiological status, manage mental and climatic conditions affect fertility of the animal. The main factor affectingthe reproductive potential in different developing regions including Ethiopia is nutritional status of cows that too trace minerals. So further research with organic trace minerals is needed to: 1) better define conditions where performance or health responses may be expected, 2) define the optimal level of organic trace mineral(s) that should be added to the diet, 3) determine if responses observed are of a magnitude necessary to justify the cost, and 4) determine the mode of action whereby to improve the reproductive efficiency dairy cows.