Mineral and amino acid composition of beef cattle hooves

Twenty-three Hereford X Shorthorn cattle were used to evaluate the effects of seasonal and dietary changes on the mineral composition (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, and S) of hooves. A seasonal pattern was found in the Ca, Mg, and Zn composition of hooves in the 12 cattle evaluated in 1982 and in the 11 cattle evaluated in 1983, with the concentrations of 3 minerals decreasing in winter when dietary change did not occur. Copper concentrations significantly decreased during the 1st year (1982) and had a tendency to decrease during the 2nd year. During the 1983 pasturing season, when effects of seasonal vs dietary change could not be distinguishable, hoof concentrations of Ca and Mg decreased, whereas the inverse trend was observed for Cu and Zn. Seasonal patterns for hoof concentrations of S were not found. Results of mineral analysis of hooves indicated strong correlations between calcium and the other minerals (except S), and between Zn and Cu. Amino acid analyses of hooves of the 11 cattle in 1983 indicated differences in their composition related to dietary changes (winter feeding vs pasture) or to management.