Liver Mineral Levels Associated with Hoof Disease Occurrence and Severity in Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis) in California, USA.

Trace minerals serve vital roles in physiologic functions of animals. In ungulates, trace minerals, including copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn), are essential for immune function, as well as hoof development and maintenance. Trace minerals may influence the occurrence or severity of treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD), a debilitating infectious disease of free-ranging Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain ecotypes of elk (Cervus canadensis).