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

CHELATES AS FEED ADDITIVE

• Type I: Chelates that Aid in transport and to store metal ions
  • Chelates of this group behave as a carrier for proper absorption, transportation in the circulatory system and passing across cell membranes to deposit the metal ion at the site where needed.
    • Among amino acids, cysteine and histidine are particularly effective metal binding agents and may be of primary importance in the transport and storage of mineral elements throughout the animal body.
    • Ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) and other similar synthetic ligands also may improve the availability of zinc and other minerals.
• Type II: Chelates essential in metabolism
  • Many chelates of animal body are holding metal ions in such a cyclic fashion which are absolutely necessary to be in that form to perform metabolic function. Vitamin B_12, cytochrome enzymes and haemoglobin are some of the examples of this type.
  • Haemoglobin molecule without its content of ferrous form of iron will be of no use in transporting oxygen.
• Type III: Chelates which interfere with utilisation of essential cations
  • There are some chelates found in the body which might have accidentally formed and are of no use to the subject.
  • Rather, those chelates may be detrimental for the proper utilisation of the element. Phytic acid-Zn chelate or oxalic acid calcium chelate are examples of this type.