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Mineral source and immune response in nursery pigs
Piglets fed a higher quality source of trace mineral such as hydroxychloride trace minerals during a chronic immune challenge, produce fewer pro-inflammatory cytokines. That can reduce excessive energy expenditure by the immune system, thereby saving energy for growth.
BY NAIANA EINHARDT MANZKE, DVM, PHD, MICRONUTRIENTS AND ALICE HIBBERT, TROUW NUTRITION T
0 * IntelliBond, Selko Growth performance- d 28-42 (post LPS) G:F
Mineral source matters A study was designed to determine the effects of source and level of Zn, Cu and Mn on piglets’ growth performance and immune response during a chronic lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O111:B4) challenge. The trial, conducted at Oklahoma State University, USA, was based on previous study findings. These indicated that feeding hydroxychloride trace minerals (Zn, Cu and Mn) could reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines after an acute immune challenge compared to pigs fed sulphate trace minerals. Lipopolysac-
38 ▶PIG PROGRESS | Volume 36, No. 8, 2020
race minerals including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) play an important role in the im- mune system and are essential for animal perfor- mance. Zinc helps maintain skin integrity and mu-
cosal membranes (as a co-factor for metallo-enzymes required for cell membrane repair), and promotes activation and proliferation of T-lymphocytes. Copper is a cofactor of cellular metabolic reactions and copper-dependent enzymes. Several of these enzymes play an important role in antioxi- dant defense of the body, while working within the mac- rophages to combat certain infectious agents. Manganese is another trace mineral that is a co-factor to several enzymes and helps protect DNA against oxidative damage.
Stress factors during weaning Nursery pigs experience several stress factors during wean- ing, which directly impact their immune system. In response to these stress factors, chemical messengers called cytokines are released to regulate inflammation. However, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression can lead to decreased growth, as well as reduced feed intake, feed efficiency, and lean tissue deposition. As trace minerals help regulate these pro-inflammatory cytokines, it becomes important that diets are formulated to optimise absorption of Zn, Cu and Mn to meet the animal’s requirements. On the other hand, simply supplying an adequate amount of trace minerals in the diet may not be sufficient, once differences in the chemical and physical properties between sources of Zn, Cu, and Mn have significant effects on trace mineral bioavailability and the ani- mal’s response to supplementation. For example, sulphate trace minerals are more hygroscopic, more soluble in water and significantly less bioavailable than hydroxychloride min- eral sources, such as Selko’s IntelliBond* trace minerals. Where this article speaks of ‘hydroxychloride trace minerals’, this product is meant. Because of trace metal’s critical role in the immune system, challenged pigs may have more need for essential trace met- als when their immune system experiences a challenge. Questions regarding how the source and dietary level of Cu, Zn, and Mn influence immune response and growth response during a challenge are inspiring research.
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