Effect of Trace Mineral Source on Claw Integrity of Dairy Cattle

Two hundred fifty multiparous and primiparous cows were assigned to a study at approximately 70 d prepartum to determine effect of trace mineral source on claw integrity. Cows received treatments from 3 wk prepartum through 250 d postpartum. Treatments consisted of 1) Sulfate, all supplemental Zn, Mn, Cu and Co provided in sulfate form; and 2) Availa®4, where 360 mg Zn, 200 mg Mn, 125 mg Cu and 12 mg Co supplied daily by sulfate minerals were replaced with similar amounts of minerals supplied by Availa-4. Individuals involved with daily animal care and/or data recording were blinded to treatment assignments. Cows from all treatments were housed in common pens and treatments were dispensed to cows via a computerized feeder. All claws of cows were examined prior to treatment administration and at 16 and 36 wk postpartum by personnel trained in identifying claw lesions. The MIXED procedure of SAS® was used to analyze the data and effects included in the model were covariate ...