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The US Environmental Protection

Agency has placed some metals such

as copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc

(Zn) on their list of priority pollutants,

as they are considered among the most

toxic elements in the environment when

improperly managed. Trace minerals

cannot be degraded through chemical

or biological processes, and therefore

remain in the soil for long periods of time.

The benets of supplementing copper, zinc and manganese in

animal feed are critical to animal health and wellbeing, as well as

overall production and performance improvements. For example,

pork producers supplement diets with copper for enteric benets.A swine study has shown injected copper could result in a 19.8

percent increase in weight gain and 16.9 percent improvement

in feed conversion. These benets, along with 9.4 percent

improvement in loin muscle weight relative to live body weight,

underscore the role of available copper in grow/nish pigs. An

important trace mineral for red blood cell health, reproduction

and immune function, copper is also a metal co-factor for an

enzyme responsible for collagen development and is critical for

strengthening tendons, bones, skin and intestines.In addition, without adequate available zinc in poultry diets,

young birds may not receive the maximum protective benet of

a vaccination program. Zinc decient birds are more susceptible

to diseases, resulting in increased mortality, poor efciency

and ultimately, economic loss for the producer. Deciencies

can lead to structural defects, as well as compromised growth

performance. Because zinc, as well as copper, has low natural

bioavailability and absorption in the animal, it must be

supplemented to realize the animal’s full performance potential.

Many studies have identied both copper and zinc, when

used at elevated levels, can have a signicant effect on the

environment through excretion into the manure. Traditionally,

supplemental copper has been offered in inorganic forms as

copper sulfate (CuSO4) or tribasic copper chloride (TBCC).

Depending on the source of minerals fed, as little as 20 percent of

the inorganic copper may actually be utilised by the animal, with

the remaining 80 percent excreted in the manure.

Producers routinely over-supplement inorganic mineral salts,

believing this is the best way to get the maximum benet of a

mineral program. However, this over supplementation does not

necessarily optimise animal performance, and in fact the majority

of these minerals will be excreted in the faeces. In broilers, for

example, it can be calculated that 75 percent of the dietary zinc

is wasted in this way. Over time, these minerals can accumulate

in the soil and can affect plant growth, crop production andecosystem integrity. The over exposure of some minerals to

plants can reduce photosynthesis, brown the root tips, inhibit

growth and ultimately cause death. The microbial population

in the soil is also affected by minerals contamination when

accumulation has occurred.

Environmentalimpact of

micronutrients in

livestock feeding by Jake Piel, Sustainability Manager,Novus International

Agricultural production systems are adapting

operations to meet the increasing demand for

wholesome and affordable food. Attention has

focused on the long-term impact on ecosystems

of both crop and animal production. With

reference to animal agriculture, concerns have

been expressed about the concentration of

minerals in manure and its subsequent effect on

soil mineral content and phytotoxicity.

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Mineral pollution of water resources is also a problem in many

world areas. This is typically due to heavy industrialisation and

urbanisation; however, leaching of minerals from the soil into

water reservoirs often occurs, as well as the transport of soil due

to heavy rains and runoff. The aquatic environment is highly

susceptible to the effects of mineral toxicity as these organisms

are in close and constant contact with soluble minerals over an

extended period of time.

Currently, there are limited regulations for mineral pollution

in many areas. In fact, a recent report indicating poor soil

environment conditions has ignited talks in China, so much so

that, “the State will strengthen its regulatory role and set up a

lifelong accountability mechanism for soil contamination; tighten

the supervision and inspection on the performances of heavy

polluters; and strictly control the misuse and abuse of agricultural

inputs during the agricultural production activities.”

In Europe, KRAV standards limit the highest average

applications of copper and zinc over ve years of products

applied to the soil including feed, feed minerals and medicines to

500 and 700 g/ha/yr., respectively (KRAV 2006). Much emphasis

has been placed on strategies for reducing the amount of copper

and zinc excreted in this region.Recently, the maximum permitted levels of trace minerals

supplemented to swine diets are 170 mg/kg DM for the growing

phase and 25 mg/kg DM for the fattening stage (Lopez-Alonso

2012). It is important for both animal producers and legislative

authorities to have proper dialogue to encourage positive

outcomes in terms of animal wellbeing and good environmental

stewardship.

Reducing the mineral load in the surrounding environment is a

component of sustainable agriculture. The single most effective

measure is the reduction in trace mineral levels supplemented

in the feed. Furthermore, this can be done while increasing the

minerals available for metabolic uptake. It is known that mineral

elements bound to an organic ligand are more stable in the

gut, as the cation does not interact with the other antagonistic

components during digestion. As a result, these organic trace

minerals (OTMs) are delivered to the site of absorption, thus

increasing their bioavailability to the tissues.

In 2014, 117 million pigs were produced in the United States.

Potentially, more than 2 million pounds of copper excreted

in the environment could have been avoided with the use of

MINTREX® Cu from Novus. A recommended lifetime loading

limit for copper in soil is 77 pounds of copper per acre. Using this

recommendation, and supplementing with MINTREX Cu, means

that 27,000 fewer acres are required to manage this mineral

load. This is relatively small if we consider that half of the pigs

produced in the world, about 476 million, are in China. If all pig

feed in China was supplemented with MINTREX Cu, as opposed

to inorganic trace minerals, the result is a savings of 982 million

pounds of copper excreted to the environment as waste. Using

the same US copper loading rates, this is equivalent to almost 13

million acres.As the global population approaches nine billion by 2050,

food production capacities must increase to accommodate the

nutritional needs of more people. Technological advances in

agriculture and livestock production, as well as sustainable

practices, are critical to achieving this goal. The reduction

of environmental pollution by minerals is one area in which

signicant improvements can be made through supplementing

healthy diets with a more bioavailable mineral solution.

 References available on request 

Turnkey Feed Mil l

Sys tems

www.yemtar .com600 Evler Mah. Balikesir Asfaltı Sol Taraf Cad.No:65 BANDIRMA / BALIKESİR / TURKEY

P(+90)266 733 85 50 | F(+90)266 733 85 54

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