Does feeding supplemental zinc to pregnant cows affect the zinc stores in the calf after birth?
A. Yes, it can. Research conducted by the USDA at Miles City showed that feeding 170 mg of zinc per day during the last trimester of gestation significantly increased the plasma zinc levels of the calves even after six weeks of age. They concluded that there was a transfer of zinc in utero and that the transfer from the cow to the calf may have continued after birth via the milk.
