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D. M. Price, K. G. Arriola, D. O. Rae, D. M. Irsik, M. Hersom, J. V. Yelich, 092 Effect of Pre- and Postnatal Trace Mineral (TM) Sources on Post-Weaning Sexual Development in Angus and Brangus Bulls, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 95, Issue suppl_1, December 2016, Page 46, https://doi.org/10.2527/ssasas2017.092
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Abstract
A 2 × 2 factorial design evaluated breed (Angus vs. Brangus) and prenatal/postnatal TM source (inorganic vs. organic) effects on bull sexual development. Bulls (241 ± 2 d, 249 ± 4 kg, n = 32, 8 per TM × breed) born to dams supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn as inorganic (Se selenite or salt sulfates) or organic (Se-yeast and proteinates) TM sources starting 82 ± 2 d pre-calving. At weaning, calves were assigned to 1 of 4 pens based on treatment, receiving the same TM supplement as their dams. All bulls were fed a high energy/protein diet to gain approximately 1.14 kg/d with TM source delivered in a pellet based on manufacturers recommendations. Bi-weekly semen collection, scrotal circumference (SC) and BCS (scale 1 to 9) were recorded. Semen collection was initiated when SC was 26 cm. Puberty was defined as an ejaculate with sperm concentrations ≥ 50 × 106 cells/mL, with ≥ 10% motility. Sexual maturity was defined as two consecutive semen collections with SC ≥ 30 cm, sperm motility ≥ 30%, and normal sperm ≥ 70%. Data were analyzed with PROC MIXED with fixed effects of TM source, breed, and interaction for puberty and sexual maturity data. Results are presented as LSM ± SE. At puberty (n = 27), no effect (P > 0.05) of TM source, breed, or interaction for age (337 ± 7 d), BCS (4.8 ± 0.1), motile (33.0 ± 2.3%) or normal sperm (48.7 ± 4.5%) occurred. However, Brangus (172.4 ± 28.2 × 106 cells/mL) had greater (P = 0.05) sperm concentration than Angus (96.9 ± 23.3 × 106 cells/mL). A TM source × breed effect (P = 0.01) occurred for SC at puberty; Brangus inorganic (33.5 ± 0.9 cm) were greater (P < 0.05) than Brangus organic (30.3 ± 0.9 cm), while Angus inorganic (29.9 ± 0.7 cm) and organic (31.2 ± 0.7 cm) were similar (P > 0.05). At sexual maturity (n = 15), organic (351 ± 18 d) were numerically (P = 0.14) younger than inorganic (391 ± 16 d), while BCS (5.2 ± 0.1), SC (33.6 ± 0.7 cm), sperm concentration (156.5 ± 24.9 × 106 cells/mL), motile (47.3 ± 2.7%), and normal (76.4 ± 1.0%) did not differ (P > 0.05) by TM source, breed, or interaction. Pubertal traits were affected by breed but not TM source. However, TM source may decrease bull age at sexual maturity.
