Mineral

Calcium
(Ca)

Phosphorus
(P)

Sodium (Na)
Magnesium
(Mg)
Sulfur (S)

Potassium
(K)
Iodine (I)

Iron (Fe)

Copper (Cu)
Cobalt (Co)
Manganese
(Mn)
Zinc (Zn)
Fluorine (F)
Selenium
(Se)
Molybdenum
(Mo)

Table 1. Summarization of minerals in dairy rations.

Deficiency Symptoms
Food Sources for
Functions
and Associated Problems
Dairy Cattle
Bone and teeth formation, Rickets, slow growth and
Alfalfa and other
blood clotting, muscle
poor bone development,
legumes, ground
contraction, 12% in whole easily fractured bones,
limestone, dicalcium
milk
reduced milk yield
phosphate, steamed
bone meal
Bone and teeth formation, Fragile bones, poor growth, Phosphates, steamed
involved in energy
low blood phosphorus,
bone meal, cereal
metabolism, part of DNA
depraved appetite, poor
grains, grain byand RNA, .09 percent in
reproductive performance
products, oil seed
milk
meal
Acid-base balance,
Craving for salt, reduced
Common salt and
muscle contraction, nerve appetite, incoordination
butter products
transmission
weakness, shivering
Enzyme activator, found
Irritability, tetany-increased
Magnesium oxide,
in skeletal tissue and
excitability
forages and mineral
bone
supplements
Rumen microbial protein
Slow growth, reduced milk
Elemental sulfur,
synthesis, found in
production, reduced feed
sodium and potassium
cartilage, tendons, and
efficiency
sulfates, legume
acids
forages
Maintenance of
Decrease in feed intake,
legume forages,
electrolyte balance,
loss of hair glossiness,
potassium chloride,
enzyme activator,
lower blood potassium
potassium sulfate
muscle/nerve function
Synthesis of thyroxine
Big neck in calves,
Iodized salt, trace
goitrogenic (enlargement of mineralized salt and
thyroid gland) substances
commercial
may cause deficiency
supplements
Part of hemoglobin, part
Nutritional anemia, pale
Forages, grains, trace
of many enzyme systems
mucus membrane
mineralized salt,
ethylene diamine
dihydroiodine
Needed for manufacture
Severe diarrhea, abnormal
Trace mineralized salt
of hemoglobin, coenzyme appetite, poor growth,
and commercial
coarse, bleached hair coat
supplements
Part of vitamin B12,
Failure of appetite, anemia, Trace mineralized salt
needed for growth of
decreased milk production,
and commercial
rumen microorganisms
rough hair coat
supplements
Growth, bone formation,
Delayed or decreased
Trace mineralized salt
enzyme activator
signs of estrus, poor
and commercial
conception
supplements
Enzyme activator, wound
Decreased weight gains,
Forages, trace
healing
lowered feed efficiency,
mineralized salt, zinc
skin/wound problems
methionine
Not known if it is essential Severe reduction in feed
Rock phosphate
for ruminants, although
intake, stiffness in legs,
mineral
essential for lab animals
enlarged bones
Functions with certain
White muscle disease,
Oil meals, alfalfa,
enzymes, associated with retained placenta, lessens
wheat, oats, corn,
vitamin E, immune
subclinical mastitis
commercial
system
supplements
Part of the enzyme
Loss of weight, emaciation, Widely distributed in
xanthine oxidase
diarrhea
feeds, deficiency
rarely a problem