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Animals
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Minerals in Animal Production
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Minerals in Animal Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 19309

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Diriba B Kumssa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Plant and Crop Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Interests: biofortification; mineral nutrition; geographic information science; magnesium in ruminant livestock; ryegrass

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than 20 minerals are essential for the health, welfare, and productivity of animals. These minerals play catalytic, physiological, regulatory, and/or structural roles and constitute 4% of the animal body weight. Depending on the quantity required, mineral nutrients are categorized into two classes, that is, macro- and micro-minerals. Dietary macrominerals (e.g., Ca, Mg, P, K) constitute >0.01% while microminerals (e.g., Cu, Co, I, Fe) make up <0.01% of the feed dry matter. The supply, bioavailability, and utilization of dietary minerals depends on feed type, environmental conditions of feed production, and physiological conditions of the animal. While inadequate intakes of minerals can result in deficiencies, excess intakes can cause toxicities. Deficiencies or toxicities of dietary minerals negatively affect animal welfare and productivity. A balanced mineral nutrition is crucial to ensure animal welfare, maximize productivity, and minimize the environmental impact of animal husbandry. This special issue of Animals, “Minerals in Animal Production”, will explore recent advances in the mineral nutrition of different types of farm animals from various perspectives, including but not limited to:

  1. Mineral nutrition of animals under intensive farming systems (aquaculture, dairy, poultry, sheep, etc.);
  2. Animal mineral nutrition under smallholder agropastoral or pastoral systems;
  3. Recent developments in identifying and managing factors affecting animal mineral nutrition;
  4. Supplementary mineral feeding and implications for animal welfare, productivity, and environmental health.

Dr. Diriba B Kumssa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agropastoral
  • bioavailability
  • dairy
  • forage
  • macrominerals
  • microminerals
  • mineral deficiency
  • mineral toxicity
  • pastoral
  • poultry
  • sheep

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 604 KiB  
Article
Essential and Toxic Mineral Content and Fatty Acid Profile of Colostrum in Dairy Sheep
by Maria Francesca Guiso, Gianni Battacone, Linda Canu, Mario Deroma, Ilaria Langasco, Gavino Sanna, Eleni Tsiplakou, Giuseppe Pulina and Anna Nudda
Animals 2022, 12(20), 2730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202730 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2243
Abstract
Colostrum is a major source of immunity in ruminants. It allows the transfer of antibodies from the mother to the fetus, and it is the exclusive source of nutrients for the newborn. The objectives of this study were (i) to characterize the macro [...] Read more.
Colostrum is a major source of immunity in ruminants. It allows the transfer of antibodies from the mother to the fetus, and it is the exclusive source of nutrients for the newborn. The objectives of this study were (i) to characterize the macro and the micro composition of colostrum; (ii) to analyze the antioxidant capacity, fatty acid profile, and essential and toxic mineral content of colostrum; and (iii) to compare FA profiles and the amount of trace elements between colostrum and mature milk. For these purposes, samples of colostrum and milk were collected from a representative sample of animals from eight sheep dairy farms in the north of Sardinia (Italy). Fat, proteins, and seven essential and toxic minerals were measured in all samples of colostrum and milk. Furthermore, the FA profile was also measured in both matrices, while total antioxidant capacity was measured only in colostrum samples. The average amounts of fat and protein (TP) concentration in colostrum were 7.8% and 16%, respectively. Additionally, an average amount of 40 ± 20 g dm−3 was found for immunoglobulin G (IgG). As regards the antioxidant capacity of colostrum, a large variation was observed between samples from different farms for test 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), which was 30 ± 10% (mean ± standard deviation). High levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) were found in colostrum (200 µg kg−1, 25,000 µg kg−1, and 1200 µg kg−1, respectively). A strong positive correlation between TP and IgG was observed (r = 91%). In colostrum, the amount of IgG is positively correlated with Se and Zn, as they are essential minerals to the immune system. The FA profile demonstrated higher levels of medium and long chain fatty acids in colostrum than in mature milk, and this is mainly true for arachidonic acid (ARA), ecosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study provided new information on the quality of colostrum in Sarda dairy sheep and showed the different composition of fatty acids between colostrum and mature milk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Minerals in Animal Production)
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9 pages, 239 KiB  
Article
Effect of Organic or Inorganic Mineral Premix in the Diet on Laying Performance of Aged Laying Hens and Eggshell Quality
by Chan-Ho Kim, So Hee Jeong, Se Jin Lim, Si Nae Cheon, Kihyun Kim, Julan Chun and Junghwan Jeon
Animals 2022, 12(18), 2378; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182378 - 12 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2337
Abstract
In this study, we examined the effect of diets supplemented with organic and inorganic mineral premixes on the laying performance and eggshell quality of aged laying hens. A total of 600 68-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 [...] Read more.
In this study, we examined the effect of diets supplemented with organic and inorganic mineral premixes on the laying performance and eggshell quality of aged laying hens. A total of 600 68-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments, repeated 5 times: Mash type basal diet, basal diet supplemented with an inorganic mineral premix (1.0 g/kg), and basal diet supplemented with an organic mineral premix (1.8 g/kg). The results showed that eggshell strength was higher (p < 0.01) in the inorganic mineral diet group than in the organic mineral and basal diet groups. Further, the levels of Fe and Mn in the liver were higher (p < 0.05) in the inorganic and organic mineral diet groups than in the basal diet group. The concentrations of Fe and Mg in the spleen were different (p < 0.05) among the treatment groups, with the highest levels reported in the organic mineral premix group. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn in the eggshell were different (p < 0.05) among the groups, with the highest levels reported in the inorganic and organic mineral premix diet groups. In conclusion, a diet containing organic mineral premix improved eggshell strength and had no detrimental effect on the laying performance of aged laying hens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Minerals in Animal Production)
9 pages, 280 KiB  
Communication
The Effect of Heat Stress and Vitamin and Micro-Mineral Supplementation on Some Mineral Digestibility and Electrolyte Balance of Pigs
by Arth David Sol Valmoria Ortega, László Babinszky, Xénia Erika Ozsváth, Ogonji Humphrey Oriedo and Csaba Szabó
Animals 2022, 12(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030386 - 5 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3811
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) can have detrimental effects on intestinal integrity and can jeopardize the digestibility performance in pigs. With prolonged exposure to heat, some thermoregulatory processes in pigs are potential causes for electrolyte imbalance. The adverse effects of HS on mineral digestibility and [...] Read more.
Heat stress (HS) can have detrimental effects on intestinal integrity and can jeopardize the digestibility performance in pigs. With prolonged exposure to heat, some thermoregulatory processes in pigs are potential causes for electrolyte imbalance. The adverse effects of HS on mineral digestibility and electrolyte balance are not widely studied and information on its abatement through vitamin and micro-mineral supplementation in combinations above the recommended level in pigs is limited. The aim of this study is to research this area. Thirty-six Danbred hybrid barrows (65.1 ± 2.81kg) were distributed among the four treatments (n = 9 per treatment): (1) thermo-neutral (19.5 ± 0.9 °C, RH- 85.9 ± 7.3%)+ control diet (TC) (NRC, 2012), (2) HS (28.9 ± 0.9 °C, RH- 60.4 ± 4.3%) + control diet (HC), (3) HS +diet with elevated levels of vitamins (vitamin E and C) and micro-minerals (Zn and Se) (HT1), and (4) HS + diet with further elevation of vitamins and micro-minerals (HT2). Plasma samples were collected on days 7 and 21 of the experiment to investigate electrolyte concentration. During the experimental period, feces samples were collected from pigs placed in digestibility cages (six pigs from each treatment) to investigate the digestibility of Ca, P, Na, Se, and Zn. HS did not decrease the digestibility of minerals, but elevated supplementation of the selected vitamins and trace minerals improved it significantly. HS caused a significant decrease of Cl− (p < 0.01) in plasma, indicating an imbalance. In conclusion, pigs can have some resilience against heat stress in terms of mineral digestibility. Proper vitamin and trace mineral supplementation are key factors in the ability of pigs to overcome the negative effects of HS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Minerals in Animal Production)

Review

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46 pages, 2261 KiB  
Review
Relative Bioavailability of Trace Minerals in Production Animal Nutrition: A Review
by Laurann Byrne and Richard A. Murphy
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1981; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151981 - 4 Aug 2022
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8903
Abstract
The importance of dietary supplementation of animal feeds with trace minerals is irrefutable, with various forms of both organic and inorganic products commercially available. With advances in research techniques, and data obtained from both in-vitro and in-vivo studies in recent years, differences between [...] Read more.
The importance of dietary supplementation of animal feeds with trace minerals is irrefutable, with various forms of both organic and inorganic products commercially available. With advances in research techniques, and data obtained from both in-vitro and in-vivo studies in recent years, differences between inorganic and organic trace minerals have become more apparent. Furthermore, differences between specific organic mineral types can now be identified. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, we carried out an extensive literature search on previously published studies detailing performance responses to trace minerals, in addition to their corresponding relative bioavailability values. This review covers four of the main trace minerals included in feed: copper, iron, manganese and zinc, and encompasses the different types of organic and inorganic products commercially available. Their impact from environmental, economic, and nutritional perspectives are discussed, along with the biological availability of various mineral forms in production animals. Species-specific sections cover ruminants, poultry, and swine. Extensive relative bioavailability tables cover values for all trace mineral products commercially available, including those not previously reviewed in earlier studies, thereby providing a comprehensive industry reference guide. Additionally, we examine reasons for variance in reported relative bioavailability values, with an emphasis on accounting for data misinterpretation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Minerals in Animal Production)
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