By Ryan Samuel, research project manager, Alltech
Trace minerals are typically supplemented into swine diets as part of a premix. Although dietary trace minerals are required in only minute quantities, they play essential roles in metabolic functions that safeguard animal health and regulate growth.
Organic trace minerals (such as Bioplex®), resembling the forms found naturally in
feed ingredients, are generally more easily absorbed by animals compared to traditional inorganic mineral salts (e.g., sulfates, oxides). A two-fold benefit is achieved: 1) more of the mineral is retained by the animal and available for metabolic functions and increasing efficiency and 2) lower inclusions are possible, reducing the environmental impact. Supplementing the diet with only organic trace minerals, known as Total Replacement Technology, has been shown to provide even more benefits.
Researchers at The Ohio State University recently investigated Total Replacement Technology in sows. In measurements of productivity, it has been demonstrated that total replacement of inorganic with organic minerals from weaning pigs to gestating-lactating sows over multiple parities can result in an extra pig per litter compared to similar levels of inorganic trace mineral supplementation. In fact, the sows fed organic trace minerals farrowed more (P < 0.05) total (12.2 vs. 11.3) and live pigs (11.3 vs. 10.6) compared with sows fed inorganic trace minerals.
A recent trial at the University of Kentucky compared pigs fed organic trace minerals (Bioplex) versus pigs fed diets with inorganic trace minerals, mostly in the sulfate form. Pork loins cut into 1” chops from Bioplex-fed pigs had improved water-holding capacity and tenderness during refrigerated storage when compared to pigs fed inorganic trace minerals.
Historically, there has been little concern regarding the trace mineral levels of waste from swine operations. However, the situation has and continues to change as more countries implement regulations that limit the trace mineral excretion levels. Directly a reflection of the diets being fed to the animals on the farm, manure levels can be manipulated by mineral level and form. A recent study in China using a trace mineral combination product observed that pigs fed diets containing organic copper (Bioplex® Copper) had the lowest level of mineral excretion, even lower than no trace mineral diets.
Many studies have found that there are important benefits from the supplementation of trace minerals through a Total Replacement Technology approach. Greater bioavailability can reduce the inclusion levels of trace minerals in premixes and therefore help to reduce the concentrations in the manure from swine operations. Furthermore, organic trace minerals have been shown to have fewer degradation effects in premixes and provide production advantages in the animals.
Editor’s Note: This commentary is sponsored by Alltech, Inc. For more information on animal health and nutrition, go to:www.alltech.com
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