If you can help your clients understand mineral problems and correct them, you should unlock significant improvements in performance, reproduction and potential profit, says Dr. Jeffery Hall, head of the toxicology lab for the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Depending on severity of mineral problems and money spent to correct them, the return on investment can be five to one or slightly higher, Hall says.

Dr. Hall says based on thousands of samples from across the U.S. that come through his lab each year, the most common mineral deficiencies in beef cattle are:

Here are three examples of why the return can be significant.

These are particularly good numbers to remember when newly supplemented cattle, that have been deficient, are eating the producer out of house and home and trying to get caught up from their mineral deficiency. It may seem horribly expensive at the time, but consumption will drop to normal when their bodies are recharged.

Next week: Explaining to clients that timing and correct balance are critical for mineral supplementation.