Impact of 48-h water and feed deprivation and hydroxychloride sources of copper and zinc on the metabolism and performance of grazing Nellore cattle during the dry period

•Water and feed deprivation affects ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility.•Water and feed deprivation induced the mobilization of adipose and muscle tissue.•Hydroxychloride source may improve fiber digestibility and DM intake.•The use of hydroxychloride source improved liver copper status.•Water and feed deprivation did not affect animal performance. Procedures such as transport and marketing can subject animals to water and feed deprivation and impair animal health and performance. Maintaining the mineral status of animals under these conditions can bring benefits to health and performance. The use of hydroxychloride mineral sources can improve mineral status, nutrient digestibility and performance. Two studies were conducted to investigate how the supplementation of 02 trace mineral sources of Cu and Zn and 48-hour water/feed deprivation would affect the performance and metabolism of grass-fed beef cattle. In the first study, 20 castrated and rumen-canulated Nellore steers (BW = 350 ± 132 kg; 20 m) were distributed in individual pens, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: supplemental Cu and Zn sources from inorganic vs hydroxychloride (HTM) and 48-hours deprivation (WFD) vs unrestricted (WFU) access to water and feed. The 57d of study was divided into two periods: (1) Adaptation from −21d to −1d and (2) evaluation from 0d to 36d. Interaction between deprivation × period was detected (P