ANN 111: Principles of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

MINERAL ABSORPTION, IMBALANCE AND PREVENTION

Mode and site of absorption of minerals:

• Minerals are mainly absorbed as ions.
• The major site for absorption
  • Small intestine and anterior part of the large intestine
• Large amounts of minerals entering the digestive tract in digestive juices are reabsorbed together with those originating directly from the food.
• Mode of excretion varies with species of animal
• Ruminant tends to excrete Ca and P in the faeces whereas monogastric species excrete Ca and P mainly in the urine.

Effects of deficiencies and imbalance of minerals on animals and their prevention:

• Ingestion of diets that are deficient, imbalanced or excessively high in certain minerals induces changes in their concentration in the animal tissues from below or above the permissible limits affecting physiological functions:
  • Retarded growth
  • Decreased food utilization and productivity
  • Disturbances in fertility and general health
  • Surplus of ions in the basic medium of intestine may lead to precipitation of inorganic insoluble salts and decreased availability of respective mineral.
  • Eg. Surplus PO₄-Ca ions precipitated, Mo-Cu precipitated

Prevention of mineral deficiencies and imbalances:

• Supplementation with concentrated source of one or more mineral elements
  • Suitable mineral mixture
  • Suitable licks
  • Treatment of drinking water with soluble salts
  • Injection of slowly absorbed organic compounds
  • Appropriate fertilizer treatment of the soil to improve mineral composition of herbage.