a real multi talent with many benefits:
Methionine-Hydroxy-Analogue Chelates in diets for piglets and recent developments on phosphorous excretion and phytase-copper interaction
By Dr. Sven Keller, Sr. Technical Manager, Novus Deutschland GmbH
In the critical weaning period of piglets, proper nutritional strategies are key for maintaining optimal health and performance. To overcome post weaning diarrhea, there are new promising insights by using a particular copper containing molecule: the Copper-Methionine-Hydroxy- Analogue Chelate (MINTREX®
Cu, Novus Int., USA). The usage of
this real chelate has demonstrated its effectiveness under commercial conditions in an economic way. Compared to the inorganic copper sulfate (CuSO4
studies. After the absorption, the liver plays a key role in the complex mechanism of taking up, storing and excreting of copper.
Figure 2: Uptake, excretion and metabolic pathways of copper
), the trace
mineral in Mintrex Cu (Figure 1) is surrounded by a ring structure with two molecules of the hydroxy analogue of methionine (2-hydroxy-4 methylthiobutanoic acid, HMTBa). This sophisticated ring structure protects the copper from potential interactions in the feed and digestive tract ensuring highest bioavailability of the trace element for the animal. The technology producing these unique molecules not only allows for the creation of chelated copper; today, these HMTBa-chelates exist as zinc, copper and manganese products.
Figure 1: Structure of Mintrex Cu: 2 molecules of Methionine- Hydroxy-Analogue are building a protective structure around the copper
Copper stored in the liver can be excreted when needed to the HMTBa as ligand
bloodstream. A smaller amount is delivered to the tissue for metabolic processes (no. 2 in Figure 2). The major content of the storage pool is released into the bile (no. 1 in Figure 2) to be excreted in the intestine. There is a clear correlation between the copper content in the liver and the amount released in the bile. In addition the antibacterial effect of the bile content showed higher levels when more copper was available in the liver. To exert a growth stimulating effect copper first needs to be: absorbed, delivered to the blood stream and liver, released in the bile and excreted into the intestine. Therefore a nutritional approach is clear, maximizing Cu absorption to increase the effectiveness.
New insights in copper metabolism and its growth promoting effects High dietary levels of copper are known to improve health and growth performance in piglets. Such a growth promoting effect by copper has been attributed to an antibiotic-like mode of action on pathogenic bacteria in the intestine. Recent studies have shown that there is a link between the growth promoting potential and the digestibility or bioavailability of dietary copper. To understand this mechanism, Figure 2 illustrates the hepatic copper flow. Dietary copper is typically poorly absorbed in the digestive tract of animals; an absorption rate of max. 10 % in adult and from 15-30% in young animals are found in trial
Improved availability by using Methionin-Hydroxy- Analog Chelate In this context, the usage of Mintrex Cu delivers a promising tool for swine producers. The higher bioavailability of the copper chelate delivers more copper to the liver compared to other dietary copper sources, which then can be released via the bile in the intestine. The effect of the HMTBa-Chelate on the liver copper content was studied in a trial with 240 weaned piglets (26 days of age) and three treatments with 8 replicates and 10 piglets per pen. Treatments were 6 ppm Cu from CuSO4
(T1, control), 170 ppm Cu from CuSO4 (T2) and 170 ppm
Cu from the chelated copper (T3). Piglets in the Mintrex Cu group had the greatest liver Cu content reaching 30.46 mg/kg in the T3 group vs. 18.37 mg/kg for the piglets fed the T2 diet. As the copper levels in the feed of T2 and T3 were identical, it can be concluded that the
FEED COMPOUNDER MARCH/APRIL 2018 PAGE 33
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