Animal Health
Organic trace minerals are more effectively absorbed and utilised by production animals.
VITAMINS AND TRACE MINERALS FOR OPTIMUM GROWTH
V
itamin and trace minerals are essential micronutrients that have many biological and metabolic functions in common. Even though they are only required in minimal amounts, both vitamins and trace minerals are necessary for optimum growth, reproductive function and health in all stages of poultry production. Metabolic functions of vitamins and trace minerals are closely related, and it is well known that a deficiency of one can interfere with the utilisation of the other and vice versa. These types of nutrient interrelationships are
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complex. Aside from several vitamin-mineral synergisms (think of the beneficial relationship between vitamin E and selenium), there is also the opportunity for vitaminmineral antagonism (for example, excessive intake of copper can lead to a vitamin C deficiency). Antagonistic relationships are less known than synergistic effects but can have detrimental effects on animal health and performance. Excessive intake of a single vitamin or trace mineral can lead to disturbances by either creating a deficiency or overretention (toxicity) of another (Watts 1990).
Nutritionally induced deficiencies of specific vitamins and/or trace minerals are not uncommon and are usually brought about by over fortification. Over fortification of a single nutrient can potentially interfere with the utilisation of another nutrient, thus becoming an “antivitamin” or “antimineral”. The tendency to overformulate, especially when it comes to trace minerals, is rooted in the fact that the industry still widely relies on inorganic sources of these essential nutrients. Inorganic trace minerals are known to be less available, and even though we rarely see severe
March-April 2020
