Trace Elements in Beef Cattle: A Review of the Scientific Approach from One Health Perspective

Simple Summary This review seeks to understand how scientific research on trace elements in beef cattle has been developed and how the interaction of this theme with topics related to animal, environmental and human health has been established. Given the duality of many of the trace elements, being known as nutrients in small amounts or toxic when they exceed small concentrations, we brought the One Health perspective to analyse how researchers approach this research theme. In this work, we propose a path through scientific production to promote innovation, sustainability of animal production, food safety and human health. The objective was to investigate the context, approach and research topics present in the papers that analysed trace elements in beef cattle to identify gaps and scientific perspectives for the sustainable management of trace elements in livestock. The main research groups came from the United States, Spain, Japan, Brazil, India and Slovakia, which represented 31% of the papers produced. Only 37% of studies addressed aspects that integrated animal, environmental and human health. The reviewed papers concerned 56 elements and 15 bovine tissues (Cu, Zn, Pb, liver, muscle and kidney highlighted). The main gaps were (1) lack of research in developing countries, (2) the need to understand the impact of different environmental issues and their relationship to the conditions in which animals are raised, and (3) the need to understand the role of many trace elements in animal nutrition and their relationship to environmental and human health. Finally, we highlight possible ways to expand knowledge and provide innovations for broad emerging issues, primarily through expanding collaborative research networks. In this context, we suggest the adoption of the One Health approach for planning further research on trace elements in livestock. Moreover, the One Health approach should also be considered for managers and politicians for a sustainable environmental care and food safety.