In modern animal nutrition, the focus has shifted from meeting basic dietary requirements to enhancing overall health, performance, and sustainability. Minerals play a crucial role in various biological processes, including growth, immunity, reproduction, and metabolic function. However, the form in which these minerals are incorporated into feed significantly affects their absorption and utilization.
Traditional inorganic minerals like sulfates and oxides are often poorly absorbed due to interactions with other dietary components, which leads to low bioavailability, increased excretion, and environmental waste. To overcome these challenges, the use of chelated minerals, where minerals are bound to organic carriers like amino acids, has gained widespread attention in livestock and poultry nutrition. Chelated minerals offer effective absorption, enhanced animal performance, and greater cost efficiency over time. They not only reduce the environmental impact of mineral supplementation but also support better feed conversion and improved product quality.
What is chelation?
Chelation is a chemical process in which a mineral (such as zinc, copper, iron, or manganese) is bound to an organic molecule, which is called a chelating agent. A chelating agent can bind tightly to metal at two or more points, forming a stable ring-like structure. The resulting compound is called a chelated mineral or mineral chelate. This bond protects the mineral from unwanted interactions in the digestive tract that can reduce its absorption.
Why Chelated Minerals Are Preferred:
- Enhanced Bioavailability– Chelated minerals have higher bioavailability compared to their inorganic counterparts. The chelation process protects minerals from interactions with other compounds in the digestive system, allowing for better absorption.
- Improved Absorption– Chelated minerals are more easily absorbed in the digestive tract. The organic molecules surrounding the mineral help facilitate transport across the intestinal membrane, leading to increased absorption into the bloodstream.
- Reduced Antagonistic Interactions– Inorganic minerals may compete with each other for absorption in the digestive system, which leads to reduced overall bioavailability. Chelated minerals are less likely to interact negatively with each other, allowing for a more efficient absorption of individual minerals.
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Targeted Nutrient Delivery– Chelated minerals can be designed for specific functions within the animal’s body. For example, zinc and copper chelates are commonly used to support skin and hoof health in livestock. This targeted delivery allows for a more precise and effective supplementation strategy.
- Improved Animal Performance– The animals may experience better growth rates, reproductive performance, and overall health due to the increased bioavailability and improved absorption of chelated minerals. It leads to improved efficiency in production systems.
Benefits of Chelated Minerals:
- Enhances absorption across the intestinal membrane.
- Improves metabolic utilization.
- Stabilizes more in the gut
- Reduces antagonism, interference, and competition among the minerals.
- Improves animal health and immunity.
- Reduces mineral excretion and environmental pollution.
- Enhances the growth, production, and reproduction of an animal.
Oganovin and other mineral premixes are available on the Vinayak Ingredients India Pvt. Ltd. visit there to learn more about the significance of chelation.