Trace Minerals for California Beef Cattle 

University of California, Cooperative Extension

San Benito County Mineral Data

Selenium

Data from one herd (10 head) showed individuals ranged from 0.069 to 0.167 ppm whole blood selenium, the average was 0.106 ppm. This is considered adequate. Additional data is needed to draw firm conclusions. Additional sampling of individual herds is recommended.

Copper

Limted samples (39) submitted to the California Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (CVDL) suggest marginal Cu levels.  However, insufficient data are available for conclusions.  Further testing is needed.

Zinc

Limited samples (19) submitted to the CVDL suggest adequate Zn levels, however variation was large.  Insufficient data are available for conclusions.  Further testing is recommended.

Phosphorus

Insufficient data are available for conclusions.

Blood samples*

WEIGHTED AVERAGES

Se

Cu

Zn

P

0.092

0.60

1.52

no data

All Values

0.106

no data

no data

no data

Class 1 data only (random samples)

na

na

na

na

Class 2 data only (field trials, selected herds)

0.089

0.60

1.52

no data

Class 3 data only (sick cattle)

Number of Individuals (used in weighted averages)

Se

Cu

Zn

P

64

39

19

0

All Values

10

0

0

0

Class 1 data only (random samples)

0

0

0

0

Class 2 data only (field trials, selected herds)

54

39

19

0

Class 3 data only (sick cattle)

Number of Samples

Se

Cu

Zn

P

10

0

0

0

No. of Individuals

1

1

1

0

No. of Herds

54

39

19

0

No. of Individuals in herds

64

39

19

0

Total number of individuals

Lowest and Highest Values (Individuals only)

Se

Cu

Zn

P

0.0690

0.00

0.00

0

Lowest individual value

0.167

0.00

0.00

0

Highest individual value

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