The present study was conducted to determine the mineral status of natural range pastures of the Campos de Cima da Serra region, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in different months of the year, to compare them to beef cattle requirements (NRC, 1996). The project was carried out in twenty private farms, in Cambará do Sul county, on grazing areas without improvements (except burning) in the lastest twenty years. Pasture samples were collected in the several seasons during one year to determine its iron, manganese, copper and zinc levels. Effect of the season was verified on all analyzed minerals. The Mn and Fe contents on grass samples were higher than the beef cattle requirements. However, in some samples Fe and Mn levels were higher than the maximum tolerable for cattle. Cu contents were deficient in some months evaluated and Zn contents were lower than the required for cattle.
beef cattle; minerals; native pasture; animal requirements; mineral nutrition