The Impact of Heat Stress on Trace Element Status

With temperatures soaring, it's not just heat stress farmers need to worry about. Hot weather can reduce grazing time and feed intake, meaning cattle and sheep consume fewer essential trace elements such as:

• Copper
• Selenium
• Cobalt
• Iodine.

At the same time, animals face increased physiological and immune system demands (Rezaei-Ahvanooei et al, 2025).

Young calves and lambs are particularly vulnerable, with limited mineral reserves and high nutritional requirements to support rapid growth. Reduced trace element intake during heatwaves can impact growth rates, immunity and overall performance.

Recent research has also shown that heat stress can negatively affect fertility and reproductive performance in sheep, reducing lambing rates and lamb birth weights (Van Wettere et al, 2024).

Top Tip: During prolonged periods of hot weather, review your trace element programme and keep a close eye on grazing stock. Proactive supplementation can help maintain productivity and resilience when temperatures rise.

How can COSEICURE help

COSEICURE unique soluble glass trace element boluses provide a consistent daily release of the essential trace elements cobalt, selenium, iodine and copper for up to 6 months in cattle and 8 months in sheep where a trace element deficiency has been identified. COSEICURE is backed by over 40 years of science and testimony and remains the only soluble glass multiple trace element bolus.

Trace element boluses are available and have been formulated for

• Sheep
• Cattle
• Ruminating Calves
• Ruminating Lambs

Bimeda’s unique trace element boluses are available from your vet or local agri trade merchant. Bimeda can be contacted on:

Bimeda UK

Tel: +44 (0)1248 725 400
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bimeda Ireland

Tel: 01 466 7941
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Sources

Rezaei-Ahvanooei, M.R., Lamanna, M., Colleluori, R., Formigoni, A., Norouzian, M.A., Assadi-Alamouti, A. and Cavallini, D., 2025. Effects of Microminerals on Performance and Metabolic Adaptation in Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows: A Review. Biologic

Van Wettere, W.H., Culley, S., Swinbourne, A.M., Leu, S.T., Lee, S.J., Weaver, A.C., Kelly, J.M., Walker, S.J., Kleemann, D.O., Thomas, D.S. and Hayman, P.T., 2024. Heat stress from current and predicted increases in temperature impairs lambing rates and birth weights in the Australian sheep flock. Nature Food, 5(3), pp.206-210.