Reproductive efficiency is essential to successful beef cattle operations, directly impacting profitability and herd sustainability. Without a strong reproductive program, herds make less genetic progress and can prevent producers from achieving their business goals. While they make up a small part of the diet, trace minerals have a measurable impact on fertility and a deficit will impact a herd for generations.
Focusing on trace mineral nutrition, producers can optimize reproductive performance with:
- More viable, healthy calves
- Higher pregnancy rates
- Higher conception rates
- Better embryonic survival
- Supported fetal growth
- More culturable oocytes
- More transferrable embryos
The Role of Performance Trace Minerals in Reproduction
70% of all pregnancy loss occurs within the first 45 days of gestation. This makes early embryonic survival a critical factor in overall pregnancy retention. Anything producers can do to decrease embryonic loss during those 45 days will have major impacts on operational success.
Reproduction is the lowest priority when it comes to allocating nutritional resources. Maintenance, immunity and growth take precedence, with reproduction being the first biological process sacrificed if a cow is stressed or receiving inadequate nutrition. For replacement heifers and young cows that are still growing while lactating and reproducing, proper nutrition is essential for reproductive performance and calf rearing.
Ensuring that cattle have an adequate supply of key trace minerals, producers can support better early pregnancy survival, reduce the risk of embryonic loss and ultimately enhance reproductive efficiency.
Enhancing Embryonic Survival and Reproductive Efficiency
Performance trace minerals are also proven to boost embryonic survival. Research shows that heifers fed Zinpro® Availa® 4 had an 11% higher embryonic survival rate by day 60 compared to heifers fed inorganic trace minerals. Although pregnancy rates were similar at the first pregnancy check (days 17 to 21), by day 60 the heifers fed Zinpro Availa 4 exhibited significantly less embryonic loss. Heifers that remain pregnant by day 60 are more likely to carry the pregnancy to full term, making this period a critical window for reducing losses.
By incorporating Zinpro® into nutrition programs, producers can improve cattle in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates, reduce embryonic loss and achieve more consistent and profitable reproductive outcomes.
Improving Bovine IVF Success
In research using postpartum cows, performance trace minerals positively impacted IVF embryo production. Cows were fed Zinpro® Availa® Plus starting 30 days prior to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). Following pregnancy diagnosis, on days 82 and 97, the research team performed oocyte pickup to evaluate natural follicle development. Culturable oocytes were fertilized and re-evaluated eight days later to analyze the early impact of Zinpro® Performance Minerals® on IVF embryo production. Cows fed Zinpro Availa Plus were 43% more likely to produce a culturable oocyte and 75% more likely to produce an embryo that can be transferred to a recipient cow compared to cows fed inorganic trace minerals.
Cows fed inorganic trace minerals needed more than twice as many oocytes to generate high-quality embryos. Providing cows with Zinpro Performance Minerals, producers can make clear efficiency gains in their IVF program as well as support AI- and natural service-bred cows in the early stages of pregnancy.
Biological and Economic Benefits of Improved Reproductive Outcomes
Even in low-stress conditions, feeding Zinpro can make significant improvements in beef cattle reproduction and embryonic survival. This effect is even more pronounced in higher-stress environments, where the need for superior trace mineral nutrition is amplified. The biological benefits are often accompanied by a substantial economic return. Performance trace minerals can generate a higher return on investment (ROI) by aiding health and performance and positioning animals to perform to their full genetic potential.
Improve Reproductive Outcomes
Feeding performance trace minerals is a proven strategy for enhancing cattle fertility. Research demonstrates that trace minerals play a critical role in improving early embryonic survival, increasing IVF success rates and reducing early-stage pregnancy losses. By ensuring cattle receive the right nutrients year-round, producers can expect improved reproductive outcomes and greater profitability thanks to enhanced genetic potential, reduced calving intervals and more consistent herd performance. Whether managing in low-stress or high-stress environments, investing in Zinpro Performance Minerals is a smart choice that delivers long-term benefits and supports the sustainability of beef cattle operations.
To learn how to bolster your beef cattle nutrition program, contact a Zinpro beef team member.
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