Trace Minerals for California Beef Cattle 

University of California, Cooperative Extension

Contra Costa County Mineral Data

Selenium

Two herds have been sampled and were adequate for whole blood Se at 0.14 and 0.17 ppm. No individual cattle were below 0.10 ppm. Herds were located in the Antioch area and Vasco Road area, between Brentwood and Livermore. Based on this limited sampling, cattle are not suspected Se deficient in Contra Costa County.  This is supported with Class 3 data from the California Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (CVDL) 

Copper

Very limited numbers (29) of samples submitted to the CVDL averaged 0.44 ppm serum Cu which suggests deficiency.  Additional samples are needed.

Zinc

Very limited numbers (22) of samples submitted to the CVDL averaged 0.90 ppm serum Zn which suggests adequate levels of Zn.  Additional samples are needed.

Phosphorus

Insufficient data are available for conclusions.

Blood samples*

WEIGHTED AVERAGES

Se

Cu

Zn

P

0.124

0.44

0.90

no data

All Values

na

na

na

na

Class 1 data only (random samples)

0.156

no data

no data

no data

Class 2 data only (field trials, selected herds)

0.082

0.44

0.90

no data

Class 3 data only (sick cattle)

Number of Individuals (used in weighted averages)

Se

Cu

Zn

P

35

29

22

0

All Values

0

0

0

0

Class 1 data only (random samples)

20

0

0

0

Class 2 data only (field trials, selected herds)

15

29

22

0

Class 3 data only (sick cattle)

Number of Samples

Se

Cu

Zn

P

20

0

0

0

No. of Individuals

1

1

1

0

No. of Herds

15

29

22

0

No. of Individuals in herds

35

29

22

0

Total number of individuals

Lowest and Highest Values (Individuals only)

Se

Cu

Zn

P

0.1030

0.00

0.00

0

Lowest individual value

0.212

0.00

0.00

0

Highest individual value

* Se whole blood, Zn & P serum, Cu whole blood or serum