Edited and published by Bharat Tandon for Vetcare, Divn. of Tetragon Chemie Pvt. Ltd.

, IS-40, KHB Industrial Area,

Yelahanka New Town, Bangalore 560 064 India Ph : 080-2846 2055/56 Designed and printed by Focus Communications, Bangalore 560 003. Ph : 080-2346 3264.
e-mail: directmarketing@vetcareindia.com www.vetcareindia.com
Dear reader,
Minerals are essential for growth and reproduction. In physical terms minerals constitute a small proportion of the diet, but their importance is
paramount. To meet the increasing demand of bio-available elements and to reduce contamination of water and soil, the concept of
chelated/protienate mineral arose. Chelated minerals closely simulate forms in which they originally occur in plants and which are more
digestable.
With warmregards!
Bharat Tandon
UPDATE
BULLETIN FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY
Published in the Interest of Customer Education
VOL. 13 NO. 3
2005
inerals are essential for growth and reproduction and are
involved in a large number of digestive, physiological and
Mbiosynthetic processes within the body. The mineral needs, of
dairy animals, are usually divided into two groups: major or macro-minerals
(those required in large quantities; calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine,
potassium, magnesium and sulfur) and trace or micro-minerals (those
required in small amounts, a few mg; cobalt, copper, iodine, iron,
manganese, molybdenum, selenium, chromium, and zinc).
In modern dairy farming, the prime aim is to achieve the target weight (beef
cattle) or to achieve puberty (dairy cattle) at an early stage or to achieve
higher production status. To achieve these targets, the diet must be
formulated using high-quality, easily absorbable and metabolizable
nutrients. In physical terms, mineral and vitamins constitute only a small
proportionof thediet, but their importanceis paramount.
The leguminous forages have been found to be rich in Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu and
Zn and the non-leguminous forages rich in Mn, but the availability of both
macro as well as micro elements decline with the maturity of the plant. Grains
and protein supplements are rich in P but low in Ca. The poor quality crop
residues have sufficient quantity of Na, K, Fe and Mn but, deficient in Ca, P,
Mg and Cu. The efficiency of absorption and availability of inorganic elements
to the animal depend on the dietary source, interaction with other elements
and nutrients, age and physiological status of the animal.
To cope up the increasing demand of essential elements in high yielding dairy
animals, higher levels of inorganic salt based mineral mixture is
supplemented in daily ration, resulting in increased excretion, which may
cause environmental pollution. Therefore, in order to meet the increasing
demand of bio-available elements and to reduce the contamination of
surface water and soil, the concept of chelated mineral / mineral proteinate
came up.
Achelate is a water-soluble organic complex that has a metal ion bound in an
organic complexing agent (also called ligand), which makes it chemically
inert, ruminal stable but protease sensitive. The ligand could be a specific
amino acid, a small number of amino acids (800-1200 mol. wt.), or an
unspecified group of amino acids, a polysaccharide, ethylene diamine tetra
acetic acid (EDTA), Picolinic acid or intermediates of Kreb's cycle (citric acid).
But Chelates made fromligands that are not metabolized, such as EDTAand
bought in the
triple benefit
scheme...
The advantage of Invitro Mineral Chelation
Chelation
Chelation
Chelation
Chelation
Chelation
Chelation
Chelation
Infertility:
Mastitis:
Hoof Problems:
enhances bioabsorption because the organic form is
recognizedas peptideor aminoacid.
protects mineral inadversemedium.
protects minerals from incompatibility situation in presence of
antagonistic elements.
makes minerals pHstable and electrically neutral.
improves tissue mineral retention and activity.
makes specific tissue targeting of minerals possible, e.g. , If Zinc
is chelated with methionine it will be targeted to hooves, skin epithelial tissue
regeneration and hair where it is needed in large quantities.
is proven to be beneficial in situations like reproductive
problems, stress and rations with various interfering substances such as
phytin, where ordinary trace minerals supplementation fails.
Adding essential trace minerals in chelated formis a proven useful means of
solving several practical problems. Below is a brief discussion of practical
situations where mineral chelates could be useful.
The process of pregnancy is dependent on essential trace
minerals, which influence immune system, hormonal patterns and the
integrity of regenerated cellular epithelium. The latest evidences also
suggest that originally bound trace minerals may have a beneficial role to
play in resumption of follicular growth and fertility in dairy cows. The trials with
chelated minerals supplementation during the first 100 days following
parturition has been shown to increase fertility in dairy cows through
increased conception rate and improved embryonic survival. The improved
reproductionby chelatedmineral supplementationresults from:
! Reducedembryonic deathloss
! Improveduterineenvironment
! Reducedincidenceof cystic ovaries
! Increasedintensity of oestrous behaviour.
Numerous trials have demonstrated that organically complexed
Zinc and Seleniumcan reduce somatic cell counts in dairy cows. The role
of zinc is regeneration of keratin which maintains the integrity of the
udder lining and protecting the mammary gland from infection. It
has been shown that 50%of the teat keratin can be lost in each
milking, which needs to be regenerated. The synthesis of
teat keratin may be controlled by the amount of
bioavailable zinc in the diet. Whereas Selenium as an
integral part of the glutathione peroxidase enzyme acts
biosynergestically with Vitamin E as biological
antioxidant to improve the rapidity of influx of
pol ymorphonucl ear neutrophi l i s and thei r
phagocytic activity. This reduces somatic cell
counts and reduces incidence of mastitis.
Lameness and sore feet
have been demonstrated to reduce milk production
by affecting the cow and mobility. Improving hoof
quality with Zinc supplementation has shown to
reducestress inanimals andimproveproduction.
What are chelated minerals?
Chelated Minerals is a way of presenting the essential trace minerals to the cow in a formthat is more readily absorbed and
utilized and not subject to the same interactions commonly experienced with inorganic elemental forms. This chelation
process involves the chemical bonding of the trace mineral to an amino acid(s) or small peptides.
Metho-Chelated minerals & vitamins combination
for better productivity & growth
Fortified with By-Pass Methionine Complex
Nett
1.2 Kg
V
ET
C
A
R
E launches
A
dvanced N
utritional
Supplem
ent for
today's anim
als
w
ith technical
collaboration of
P
R
O
V
IM
I
Improves bioabsorption
Improves bioavailability and
distribution
Improves animal performance
Improves fertility rates
Improves embryo viability
Improves semen quality
Improves tissue integrity
Improves disease resistance
Improves hoof conditions
Reduce Somatic Cell Count in milk
Reduce stress
Reduce mastitis incidence
A
d
v
a
n
ta
g
e
s
o
f
B
e
s
tm
in
G
o
ld
Minerals
For Dairy Animals
picolinic acid are not considered nutritionally functional. It has now been
proved that oligo-peptides are absorbed in small intestine more efficiently
than di-peptides or single amino acids. Chelated minerals were designed to
more closely simulate the forms in which trace elements naturally occur in
plants and in this formthey are digestible and metabolized by different routes
than the inorganic salts.
About 98% of , in the body, is present in skeleton and remaining
2% in extra-cellular fluids which is, essential for the transmission of nerve
impulse, excitation of skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction, control cell
permeability, blood coagulation, digestive secretion and as a component of
milk. A deficiency of calcium may result in an increased incidence of milk
fever, decreased feed intake which results in a drop in
leads to severe
osteoporosis and osteomalacia to the point of developing spontaneous
fractures.
About 80% of in the body is found in bones and teeth,
principally as apatite salts and as calcium phosphate. It is located in every
cell of the body and almost all energy transactions involve formation or
breakdown of ATP. Phosphorus is also intimately involved in acid base buffer
system of blood and other body fluids, as component of cell walls and cell
contents as phospholipids, phospho-proteins and nucleic acids. It is also
required by ruminal micro-organisms for digestion of cellulose. For the
optimum degradation of cell wall constituent of feeds by microbes, the
available phosphorus within the rumen should be at least 5gm/kg of
digestible organic matter. Chronic signs of deficiency include rickets in young
animals and osteomalacia in adults, un-thriftiness, in-appetence, poor
growth and lactation performance, and unsatisfactory fertility; but signs are
often complicated by coincidental deficiencies of other nutrients such as
protein and energy.
is the primary extra-cellular cation, 30%-50% of which is in a non-
exchangeable fraction in the crystalline structure of bone. The exchangeable
fraction regulates extra-cellular fluid volume and acid base equilibrium. The
heart functionandnerveimpulseconductionandtransmissionaredependent
on the proper balance of sodiumand potassium. The Na-K pump is essential
for all eukaryotic cells, enabling active transport of nutrients (glucose, amino
acids and phosphate into cells and hydrogen, calcium, bicarbonate,
potassium and chloride ions out of cells) across the cell membrane. The
deficiency signs include loss of appetite, Intense craving for salt, licking and
chewing various objects and general pica, rapid loss in body weight, an
unthrifty, haggardappearance, lusterlesseyes, androughhair coat.
is essential for transport of carbon dioxide and oxygen. It is the
chief anion in gastric secretions (HCl), kills pathogens, required for protein
digestion and for activation of pancreatic amylase. General clinical signs of
chloride deficiency are anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, mild polydipsia, and
mild polyuria. In latter stages, severe eye defects and reduced respiration
rates occurred, and blood and mucus appeared in faeces. Metabolically,
chloride deficiency resulted in severe alkalosis.
is the third most abundant mineral in the cow's body. This
element is involved in several enzyme systems, muscle activity and tissue
cell functions. It is the major intracellular electrolyte mainly located within red
blood cells. Marked decline in feed and water intake, reduced body weight
and milk yield, pica, loss of hair glossiness, decreased pliability of the hide,
lower concentrations of potassium in plasma and milk, Cows will be
profoundly weak or recumbent with overall muscular weakness and poor
intestinal tone and hypo-kalemia syndrome.
Impact of minerals on the performance of
dairy cattle
calcium
phosphorus
Sodium
Chlorine
Potassium
milk production.
Severe dietary deficiency of Ca for a prolonged period
Magnesium
sulfur
Trace minerals
Iron
Cobalt
Manganese
is essential for the formation and maintenance of strong
bones. This element is a major intracellular cation that also functions in the
enzyme systems of the body which affect muscle tone, dietary energy
utilization and in the manufacture of milk. Extra-cellular magnesium is vital to
normal nerve conduction, muscle function, and bone mineral formation. If the
diet is deficient in Mg, it causes hypo-magnesaemic tetany (also called grass
tetany or grass staggers) in young calves or in fresh cows which are shifted to
grazing pastures. The symptoms include excessive nervousness, twitching
of muscles, labored breathing, rapid pulse rate, convulsions and death. The
solubility of Mg declines sharply as ruminal pH rises above 6.5%.
About 0.15% of the body weight is , which is an essential component
of amino acids as well as certain vitamins and enzymes. It is one of the most
important minerals for maintaining and supporting an active growth of rumen
micro-flora. For efficient utilization of non-protein nitrogen, the dietary
nitrogen sulfur ratio should be between 10:1 and 12:1. Deficiency of either N
or S hampers ruminal cellulose digestion and reduces animal performance.
The play a key role in many enzyme systems, and they
can have a significant impact on animal performance. Trace minerals or
micro-minerals are needed for blood synthesis, hormone structure, normal
reproduction, vitamin synthesis, enzyme formation, and immune system
integrity.
is involved in cellular respiration, oxygen transport and as components
of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and enzyme systems. About 60 to 70 percent of
the iron in the body is found in the hemoglobin. Iron helps fight oxidative
stress; prevents formation of free radicals that cause cellular damage. Early
signs of iron deficiency include anemia and low blood hemoglobin. Later
deficiency signs include weight loss and reduced appetite. Ferrous sulfate,
ferrous carbonate and ferric chloride are common sources of supplemental
iron.
is essential for ruminants as it is incorporated into vitamin B by 12
rumen microbes and, therefore, affects the formation of blood. The
importance of Co and B becomes apparent when the observation is made 12
that the main source of energy to ruminants is not glucose as in
monogastrics, but from the metabolism of VFAs like, acetic and propionic
acids. Vitamin B is required for the enzymatic activity which facilitates the 12
production of glucose from propionic acid and helps in attaining early puberty.
Moreover dietary sources of vitamin B are not used efficiently by ruminants 12
because of inactivation by rumen microbes, but presence of sufficient cobalt
may lead to synthesis of adequate amounts of vitamin B Symptoms of 12.
cobalt and vitamin B deficiencies include loss of appetite, rough hair coat, 12
stumbling gait, depressed growth in calves, and causes weakness and poor
general condition in mature animals, reduced conception rates and milk
production, and anemia. More severe sings include fatty degeneration of the
liver, anemia with pale mucous membranes, and reduced resistance to
infection as a result of impaired neutrophil function. Cattle deficient in Co
respond quickly to treatment by rapidly regaining appetite as well as
improved weight gain.
is associated with normal skeletal development,
reproduction and functioning of the central nervous system. Manganese is
involved in a number of enzyme systems in the body which participate in
carbohydrate, fat and protein utilization. It is also essential for normal brain
function, and plays a role in collagen formation, bone growth etc. Mn appears
to play a vital role in reproduction through cholesterol synthesis, which is
required for the synthesis of the steroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone
and testosterone. Manganese deficiency can cause impaired growth,
skeletal abnormalities (shortened and deformed), delayed sexual maturity,
reproductive failures including defective ovulation, testicular degeneration,
abnormal sperm, delayed estrus, reduced fertility and abortions etc. But,
supplementation of Mn improves the animal's reproductive performance.
Manganese may increase antibodies and other disease resistance factors.
is an essential component of over 200 enzyme systems which,
includes carbohydrate and energy metabolism, protein synthesis, nucleic
acid metabolism, epithelial tissue integrity, cell repair and division, and
vitamin A & E transport and utilization. In addition, zinc plays a major role in
disease resistance, immune responsiveness, and certain reproductive
hormones. Zinc is known to be essential for sexual maturity, reproductive
capacity, and more specifically, onset of estrus. Zn has a critical role in the
repair and maintenance of uterine lining following parturition, speeding return
to normal reproductive function and estrus. Zinc has also been shown to
increase plasma -carotene levels, which is directly correlated to improved
conception rates and embryonic development. The relation between Zn and
clean milk production is well known, as it reduces the SCC. There are no
significant stores of body zinc, so the animal must rely on a daily supply to
meet requirements.
functions as an essential component of the hormone, thyroxine,
which regulates metabolic rate. Thyroxine has an important influence on the
growth rate and production of livestock. First indication of iodine deficiency is
enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) of newborn calves. Calves also may be
born hairless, weak, or dead. In adult cattle, iodine deficiency can cause
enlarged thyroid glands, reduced fertility (males and females), and increased
morbidity. Lactating cows suffering from mild iodine deficiency will produce
less milk, have a poor hair coat and have increased incidence of mastitis.
Furthermore, animals that have a subclinical iodine deficiency will have
increased incidence of foot rot and respiratory disease due to suppressed
immune responses.
is essential for the activity of certain enzymes and, along with iron,
is necessary for the synthesis of hemoglobin, a component of various body
pigments, involved in the central nervous system, bone metabolism and
heart function. Copper is important for prostaglandins formation. It plays a
role in energy transfer in the cell and is also involved in protecting the body
from oxidation. Copper being a component of enzymes like superoxide
dismutase, lysyl oxidase and thiol oxidase, function to eliminate free radicals
that increase tissue susceptibility to bacterial infections, increase structural
strength and elasticity of connective tissues and blood vessels and increase
strength of horn, minimizing lameness. Symptoms of a copper deficiency
include anemia, retarded growth rate and milk yield, diarrhea, de-
pigmentation of hair and swelling of the leg bones above the pasterns. Young
animals are more likely to be affected by a copper deficiency than mature
animals. Copper deficiency suppresses the activity of cellular defense
systems, and results in an increased susceptibility to parasitismand disease.
Deficiency causes early embryonic deaths, resorption of the embryo,
increased retained placentas and necrosis of placenta.
is a structural component of an essential enzyme system-
glutathione peroxidase, and functions in association with vitamin E, certain
Zinc
Iodine
Copper
Selenium
Element Dry Fresh Lactating Maximum
pregnant cows cows** tolerable
cows* limit
Macro elements, % of complete feed
Ca 0.44-0.48 0.65-0.80 0.54-0.67 1.0
P 0.22-0.26 0.34-0.42 0.32-0.38 1.0
Mg 0.11-0.16 0.22-0.29 0.18-0.21 0.4
Cl 0.13-0.20 0.30-0.40 0.24-0.29 4.0
K 0.51-0.62 1.10-1.24 1.00-1.07 3.0
Na 0.10-0.14 0.26-0.34 0.20-0.23 1.6
S 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4
Micro elements, ppmof complete feed
Co 0.11 0.11 0.11 10.0
Cu 12-18 12-16 10-11 40.0
I 0.40-0.50 0.56-0.88 0.40-0.60 5.0
Fe 13-18 16-22 12-18 1000
Mn 16-24 15-21 13-14 1000
Se 0.3 0.3 0.3 1000
Zn 21-30 56-73 43-55 5-40
* 240-280 days **25-55 Kg/d (NRC, 2001)
Recommended levels of minerals:
Mineral requirements of dairy cattle with body
condition score of 3.0-3.3
fats and sulfur amino acids. Selenium has also been recognized as an
immune-stimulant in ruminants. Selenium, via GSHpx, is involved with
metabolism of arachadonic acid to prostaglandins. Supplementation of
seleniumimproves the killing ability of neutrophils improve immune system.
Deficiencies result in white muscle disease in young calves, cardiac and
skeletal muscle degeneration, heart failure, and paralysis of the hind legs.
Other problems that have responded to supplementation of seleniuminclude
metritis, cystic ovaries and udder edema. A reduction in retained placentas
may occur when cattle are treated with injectable seleniumand Vitamin E.
is an essential trace mineral required for normal sugar and fat
metabolism. Chromiumincreases the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor
leading to enhanced insulin sensitivity. Works with insulin in the metabolism
of sugar and stabilizes blood sugar levels, which is important during early
lactation. A chromium deficiency in lactating cows may result in increased
incidence of ketosis and decreased milk production. Stress often causes
increased glucose mobilization which increases mobilization of chromium
from body stores. Chromium supplementation may enhance resistance to
mastitis in dairy cows. The exact mechanism by which chromium enhances
the immune system is not known. However, chromium reduced serum
cortisol levels, which is known to suppress the immune system.
Chromium
In conclusion, it's important to mention that one must identify
specific mineral needs of the animal as the actual requirement
will depend on the physiological, production and reproduction
status of the animal. Feeding of complexed minerals has been
shown to improve immune response, growth, feed conversion
efficiency, productive and reproductive performance and
decreased SCC. So, to balance rations for today's and
tomorrow's high producing dairy cows we not only need to
balance rations to deliver proper amounts of amino acids,
energy, carbohydrate and fat, but we also need to balance
rations to deliver to the animal proper amounts of minerals in
the forms that animal can utilize.
Points to remember:
! Minerals should not be offered as a free choice, rather these
should be force fed daily in compounded feed/ complete feed to all
categories of animals.
! Mineral supplement should be area specific keeping in mind status
of minerals in soil and type of feed/forages of the region.
! Diet should not be deficient in other nutrients specifically energy,
protein and some of vitamins like A, D and E.
! Minerals should be supplemented keeping in view the
production/reproduction status of the animal.
! Never over-feed the minerals especially beyond tolerance levels.
! Reduce the supplementation of mineral mixture, especially that of
Ca, during transition period (last phase (2-3 wks) of pregnancy).