Organic trace minerals lead to huge return on investment

Trace minerals serve an important role in the growth of cattle

- Glenneis Kriel

The value of organic trace minerals in livestock feed was highlighted at Alltech’s Rumen Health and Fertility Focus Day, recently held in Stellenbosch.

Steve Elliott, global director of Alltech’s mineral and enzyme division, said trace minerals supported animal growth and performance, so should not be seen as mere feed additives. They needed to be included in every kilogram of feed every day, he said.

Of course, the type and level of trace minerals provided were important. “The livestock industry, for years, supplied inorganic trace minerals anywhere from three to 10 times what science said was necessary, which in turn had a negative impact on animal performance,” Elliot said.

TOO MUCH OF ONE TRACE MINERAL 

He explained that having too much of one trace mineral affected the absorption of other trace minerals, vitamins and enzymes. An oversupply of manganese, for instance, impaired iron usage, while zinc had an antagonistic impact on copper, and manganese and iron interfered with copper, zinc and chromium uptake.