PSVI-20 Supplementing cows with an organic trace mineral drench at CIDR placement improved artificial insemination pregnancy rates

Abstract Mature beef cows (n = 1,616) from a commercial ranch in central South Dakota, were used to evaluate the effects of an organic trace mineral drench containing 720 mg Zn, 400 mg Mn, 250 mg Cu, 15 mg Co, 1 mg Se, and 200 IU Vitamin E on pregnancy rates. Appropriate trace mineral status was guaranteed by providing all cows with free choice access to an organic trace mineral supplement (7 gּ animal-1ּ d-1Availa 4, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN) 60 d prior to breeding. Cows were grouped in different pastures (n = 7). In each of the pasture groups, during CIDR placement, individually identified cows were randomized to either receive no drench (CON) or 30 mL of a supplemental trace mineral drench (PROFUSION, Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN). Cows were initially bred by AI using one of two fixed-time AI protocols per group (FTAI; 7&7 Synch, n = 1 and 7-d Co-Synch+CIDR, n = 6). One week following FTAI, bulls were turned out with the cows for approximately 45 d. Pregnancy was determined by a licensed veterinarian via trans-rectal ultrasonography. The data were analyzed using R Statistical Software with cow as the experimental unit, blocking by pasture. There was no difference in overall pregnancy rate (90%; P > 0.10) between PROFUSION and CON cows at the end of the breeding period. However, PROFUSION cows had a statistically significant increase in AI pregnancy rates compared with CON cows (P = 0.05; 58.1% vs 53.2%, respectively). Supplementing an organic trace mineral drench prior to FTAI resulted in a positive improvement in AI pregnancy rates.