PSVIII-6 - Impact of Naturally Occurring Water with High Sulfate Concentration on Feed and Water Intake, Growth, and Trace Mineral Status of Beef Cattle

Abstract: This study evaluated the impact of naturally-occurring water with a high-sulfate concentration on dry matter intake (DMI), water intake, growth, and trace mineral status of yearling beef heifers.Angus-based heifers (n = 48; 398.4 ± 22.1 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 12 pens (4 heifers/pen) and fed for 100 d arranged into 25 d periods. Heifers were provided water containing 350 (CON); 2,300 (MEDS); or 4,300 mg/L (HIGHS) sulfate. Concentrated water (71,482 mg/L sulfate) from natural source was collected and blended to achieve the treatments. All data were analyzed using the fixed effects of treatment, period (d 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, and 76-100), and the treatment × period interaction, with period as a repeated measure. Average daily gain, and gain-to-feed were not affected (P>0.29). Provision of HIGHS decreased (interaction, P< 0.01) DMI from d 1-25, 26-50 and 51-75, with no effect from d 76-100 compared with CON. Heifers drinking CON and MEDS during d 26-50 had greater (interaction, P< 0.01) water intake than HIGHS with no differences among treatments otherwise. Total sulfate intake (g/d) was greater for HIGHS, followed by MEDS and CON with a greater difference between treatments during d 26-50 (interaction, P< 0.01). Heifers provided MEDS and HIGHS had a greater (interaction, P< 0.01) reduction in serum copper compared with CON. Liver copper concentration did not differ at the start of the study but was 74% and 62% of CON for MEDS and HIGHS, respectively at the end of the study (interaction, P< 0.01). Serum selenium was greater for MEDS and HIGHS than CON; while liver selenium was least for HIGHS heifers at the end of the study (interaction, P< 0.01). These data highlight that beef heifers were able to tolerate 213 g/d of sulfate intake with no negative impact on growth performance; however, MEDS and HIGHS decreased liver copper and liver selenium concentrations.