Mineral Nutrients

Physiological Importance

• Helps maintain good levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and to a lesser extent copper in the body
• Helps to transport magnesium and calcium throughout the body
• Adequate boron levels reduce the excretion levels of magnesium and calcium]

Deficiency symptoms

• Higher incidence of metabolic disease
• Arthritis and other degenerative joint/bone related diseases
• Higher levels of calcium and magnesium are needed to maintain adequate central nervous system function

Physiological Importance

• Helps in the utilization and control of carbohydrates and protein in the body
• Increases muscle & tissue growth
• Enhances fertility

Deficiency symptoms

• Decreased conception rates
• Reduced animal performance

Physiological Importance

• Key to promoting bacteria in the rumen that is vital to the formation of vitamin B12
• This process is vital in the breakdown of propionic acid a major ruminant energy source
• Helps in the transport of folic acid to the liver through the formation of methionine

Deficiency symptoms

• Ill thrift
• Lack of energy
• Poor conception rates

Physiological Importance

• Helps to form red blood cells
• Important in the construction of hair and muscle
• Key to the utilization and proper metabolism of proteins

Deficiency symptoms

• Ill thrift
• Poor conception
• Rough coat
• Hair discoloration

Physiological Importance

• Most of the body’s iodine is contained in the thyroid gland * Controls metabolism, energy, mental response maintenance of body condition

Deficiency symptoms

• Lack of energy
• Loss of sexual libido

Physiological Importance

• Controls energy production by controlling sugar levels
• Important for bone formation
• Important in protein metabolism
• Key element for conception
• Helps to regulate muscles
• Regulates digestion and digestive bacteria

Deficiency symptoms

• Poor body tone
• Lower levels of conception
• Lethargy

Physiological Importance

• Works with vitamin E as an antioxidant or protector of body cells
• Important in maintaining elasticity of muscles
• Gives protection against disease
• Important in conception

Deficiency symptoms

• Ill thrift
• Low conception rate
• Low immunity

Physiological Importance

• Helps carry carbon dioxide to the lungs
• Helps fight infection
• Keeps skin and hair healthy
• Important in both male and female fertility
• Helps regenerate cell damage
• Hardens hooves

Deficiency symptoms

• Rough coat
• Reduced conception levels
• Poor resistance to all forms of infection
• Lameness

Vital for the growth and strength of bones, 99% of the calcium in the body is contained in the bone. The bones act as a reserve for calcium; both releasing calcium into the bloodstream and storing excess calcium back to the bone as stimulated by the body's hormone balance. Calcium along with magnesium controls the muscle contraction and release mechanism within the body. It also plays a role in the formation of a number of enzymes, as well as protein formation and digestion.

There are Magnesium, boron, phosphorous, zinc and manganese. Phosphorous can play both a beneficial role in calcium uptake at adequate levels and an antagonistic role at high levels.

Magnesium:

This element plays a very important role in the relaxation of nerves and muscles. The balance of magnesium performs an important role in utilization of calcium, through the formation of calcitonin, which carries calcium into bone and parathyroid hormone, which releases it from bone into the bloodstream. Magnesium is also important for converting sugars into energy. As with calcium, magnesium is classed as a macro element, which means that it is required by the body in reasonably large quantities.

Other mineral co-factors:

• Boron, calcium, copper and phosphorous.