Serum and Hair Trace Element and Mineral Levels in Dairy Cows in Relation to Daily Milk Yield

The objective of the present study was to assess hair and serum trace element and mineral levels in dairy cows in relation to daily milk yield. A total of 70 healthy 5–6-year-old Simmental cows were divided into two groups (n = 35) with high and low daily milk yield using median as a cut-off value. Hair and serum trace element and mineral content was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. A nearly twofold difference in daily milk yield (43.8 ± 9.7 vs 21.3 ± 7.1 L/day, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with 11% lower hair Cu (p = 0.043) and 35% higher Se levels (p = 0.058) content when compared animals with lower daily milk yield. Serum trace element levels were found to be more tightly associated with milk productivity in dairy cows. Particularly, serum levels of Se and Zn were found to be 73 and 35% higher in cows with higher milk productivity in comparison to animals with lower milk production, respectively. Serum Co levels also tended to increase with higher milk productivity. Serum minerals including Ca, Mg, and P were also found to be higher in highly productive cows by 6%, 14%, and 71%, respectively. The overall regression model based on serum trace element and mineral levels accounted for 38% of daily milk production variability. Generally, improvement of essential trace element and mineral supply, as well as prevention of copper overload in dairy cows, may be considered the potential tool for modulation of milk productivity.