PARTNER FEATURE ▶▶▶


Bringing precision, performance and profitability to trace mineral supplementation


Nutrionists have to deal with many confusing claims regarding supplementation of trace minerals. Research now offers clarity on the practice of feeding trace minerals in the correct amount and form.


BY ALICE HIBBERT, DAVI BRITO DE ARAUJO AND LUIGI MOREIRA, REGIONAL PRO- GRAMME MANAGERS FOR TRACE MINERALS AT TROUW NUTRITION


L 60 SO4 IBz Org


55 50 45 40 35 30


01234 5 Intake of Suppl Zn, mg/d


16 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 10, 2020


ittle things can make a big difference. Trace minerals such as Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, I, Co and Se are added in very small quantities to livestock diets; however these nu- trients are essential for supporting animals’ potential,


productivity, and well-being. The practice of correctly feeding trace minerals is an evolving science that has advanced con- siderably since oxide-based trace minerals were first intro- duced (in the early 20th century). Since then, new categories of trace minerals have been developed along with many claims about how mineral supplementation can affect animal performance and producers’ bottom line.


Cutting through the rhetoric A growing body of independent research now offers nutri- tionists clarity on how to cut through confusing claims sur- rounding trace mineral supplementation. Research confirms the absolute need to deliver both the most bioavailable form and optimal levels of trace minerals to support animals’ re- quirements while reducing their impact on the environment. Given past ambiguities regarding trace mineral supplementa- tion, nutritionists have long favoured feeding trace mineral


Figure 1 - Bioavailability of Zn Sulphate, Zn Complex and Hydroxy Zn in Broilers.


levels well above published requirements. This practice is based on unknown stresses facing livestock, uncertainty con- cerning the availability of the metal contained within specific trace minerals supplements and confidence in the trace mineral being mixed accurately.


Precision nutrition – consider the source As greater emphasis is placed on livestock well-being, pro- ductivity, and sustainability, nutritionists and producers are working to optimise the impact of their trace mineral invest- ment. To achieve this objective, selecting an effective source of supplementation is critical. Different trace mineral sources have hugely distinct characteristics that influence how they are used by animals. As an example, oxide trace minerals sources (Zn & Mn) are inexpensive and have a high metal content. However, the metal contained within their structures has very low bioavailability, making it all but impossible to accurately determine the amount of oxides required to meet animals’ needs. Sulphate trace minerals are also relatively in- expensive but current research has defined several negative side effects. The primary issue with sulphates is their high sol- ubility/reactivity both within the feed and in the animal’s di- gestive tract. When these highly soluble sulphates come into contact with moisture in the diet, their metals are easily re- leased. The freed metals can bind with antagonists (phytate, AA, Ca, P, etc.) in the feed before they reach the point of ab- sorption. Once the trace metal binds with an antagonist, both the trace metal and the nutrient are no longer available to the animal. These factors make it difficult for nutritionists to determine the correct amount of trace minerals to include in diets. To compensate for these challenges, organic-based trace minerals were introduced (in the early 1970s). Typically, these products are characterised by their improved stability, result- ing in more metal being delivered to the point of absorption. On the negative side, these products have low metal poten- cies and are significantly more expensive than market alternatives.


Hydroxy trace minerals – a category that supports potency and profitability The newest trace mineral technology, hydroxy trace minerals, supports both optimised bioavailability and economics. Like the structural composition of organic trace minerals, hydroxy


Total Tibia (ug/tibia)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36