Minerals in Animal Nutrition

Trace minerals play a critical role in the metabolic functions of livestock and poultry. These functions help support growth and development, immune function and the reproductive performance in livestock and poultry. In addition to improving reproductive and production performance parameters, minerals are also essential to supporting several enzymatic systems. 

The beneficial responses from proper mineral supplementation can be observed throughout an animal's life. The proper amount of bioavailable minerals needs to be supplemented to support the hemostatic state of the animal during all phases of life. Minerals need to be supplemented at the correct concentrations throughout the life cycle to support the loss of minerals during energy expenditure and everyday production performance (e.g. milk production, egg production, immune response).

Mineral supplements are routinely added to rations to support livestock and poultry production and performance as an insurance against feedstuffs lacking the complete mineral composition. Many minerals are continually supplemented due to the lack of bioavailable minerals in feeds not meeting the nutritional requirements due to local soil composition and climactic effects.

Minerals Essential to Most Livestock and Poultry

• Calcium 
• Chloride
• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Iodine
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Sodium
• Sulfur
• Zinc

Incorporating Minerals to Increase Livestock Performance

Kemin has developed a line of minerals, Kemtrace® Minerals, with Kemtrace® Chromium being a staple to meet nutritional requirements in agricultural livestock diets as recommended by the Nutritional Requirements Council (NRC) for each species.

Animals fed the recommended concentration of minerals have minimal dietary-related challenges and overall, tend to have improved performance. The primary absorption site for minerals is thought to be the small intestine. However, it is possible that minerals are absorbed by other tissues throughout the body as well.¹ Mineral bioavailability is the first step to incorporating minerals for improving livestock and poultry production. During mineral absorption, minerals are reduced to simple molecules. 

While the salts that most minerals are bound to eventually dissolve into solutions, the metal propionates used in Kemtrace® Minerals and Kemtrace® Chromium were developed with optimum solubility potential for increased bioavailability and cost-effective solutions.

What are Kemtrace® Minerals?

Kemtrace® organic trace minerals are highly bioavailable and safe products with predictable and repeatable modes of action. These mineral products provide a combination of the first organic chromium source permitted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) for use in broiler and dairy cattle, along with highly concentrated, essential organic trace minerals for improving livestock production. Kemtrace® Minerals allow nutritionists and producers to formulate diets at an economical price per unit of active minerals for optimal livestock health and performance. 

What is Kemtrace® Chromium?

Kemtrace® Chromium is a highly bioavailable, organic source of chromium for inclusion into broiler, cattle and swine diets. Chromium is essential in helping broilers and dairy cattle optimize energy use. Kemtrace® Chromium improves the action of insulin and glucose utilization in animals by supplementing metabolizable chromium. 

Kemtrace® Chromium plays an important role in:

• Glucose uptake
• Cellular energy
• Performance
• Profitability

The highly bioavailable source of chromium found in Kemtrace® Chromium ensures the mineral is available to the animal for optimal nutritional and reproductive benefits. To learn more about the mode of action of Kemtrace® Chromium, watch the Chromium Mode of Action video.

References

¹Khorasani, G. R., R. A. Janzen, W. B. McGill, and J. J. Kennelly. 1997. Site and Extent of Mineral Absorption in Lactating Cows Fed Whole-Crop Cereal Grain Silage or Alfalfa Silage. J. Anim. Sci. 75:239-248.

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