Trace elements have a vital role to play in the many metabolic functions within the body. There are two broad categories of trace minerals. They are inorganic trace minerals and organic trace minerals. Organic trace elements are chelates or complexes of minerals with organic ligands. Organic trace minerals in animal nutrition are easier absorbed in the gut and have improved bioavailability. When minerals are bound to chelating agents like amino acids or hydrolyzed proteins, they become stable and thus, less reactive in the digestive tract. The common organic trace minerals for cattle, swine, aqua and poultry nutrition are iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and chromium.
Why OTMs?
Supplementation
of organic trace minerals in animal feed improves body weight gain and
production of egg and milk etc. Another important application of organic trace
minerals is reducing excretion, which reduces environmental pollution and
wastage of nutrients. Apart from production, organic trace minerals improve
immunity and reproductive performance. Animals that are fed with organic trace
minerals have higher milk yield and fat levels than those fed with inorganic
trace minerals.
Organic
zinc improves the resistance to mastitis due to the postulated role of Zn in
maintaining the skin integrity and the keratin lining of the streak canal.
Udder health can also be enhanced by reducing somatic cell counts. This is done
by adding organic trace mineral supplements.
Types of OTMs
The
different types of OTMs include:
â—
Glycinates
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Metal (specific amino acid)
complexes
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Metal amino acid complexes
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Metal proteinates
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Metal polysaccharide complexes
â—
Metal propionates
Criteria to select OTM
There are a number of parameters
to consider when choosing the right organic trace minerals - size, specificity,
solubility and stability.
a)
Solubility – High solubility in the
gastrointestinal tract enables homogenous distribution and greater absorption.
b)
Size – Small size leads to enhanced
absorption and improved metabolic utilization.
c) Stability – Higher stability ensures
reduced interaction, leading to protection from separation in the GIT.
d)
Specificity – Standard molecular
structure is important for consistent performance.
Glycinates
Glycinates
are the smallest complex trace elements with the highest mineral content.
These
are organically bound trace elements used as animal feed supplements due to
their higher bioavailability. Glycinate usage results in higher animal
performance and better animal vitality and productivity.
Performins
Performins
is a range of organic trace mineral glycinates that enhances animal
performance. This is the only trace mineral glycinate with separate
formulations for broilers, dairy, layers, breeders, and shrimp. Performins is
also available in the form of individual minerals - Performins Zinc, Performins
Copper, Performins Iron and Performins Manganese
Inclusion
â—
Broiler(Birds): 0.5 Kg per MT
of feed
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Layer(Poultry): 1 Kg per MT of
feed
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Breeder: 1 Kg per MT of feed
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Dairy: 250 – 500 g per MT (Commercial)
7 – 10 g per head per day (Farm)