Trace elements have a vital role to play in the many metabolic functions within the body. There are two broad http://www.bbc.co.uk/search?q=Animal Nutrition categories of trace minerals. They are inorganic trace minerals and organic trace minerals. Organic trace elements are chelates or complexes of minerals with organic ligands. Organic trace minerals in animal nutrition are easier absorbed in the gut and have improved bioavailability. When minerals are bound to chelating agents like amino acids or hydrolyzed proteins, they become stable and thus, less reactive in the digestive tract. The common organic trace minerals for cattle, swine, aqua and poultry nutrition are iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and chromium.

Why OTMs?

Supplementation of organic trace minerals in animal feed improves body weight gain and production of egg and milk etc. Another important application of organic trace minerals is reducing excretion, which reduces environmental pollution and wastage of nutrients. Apart from production, organic trace minerals improve immunity and reproductive performance. Animals that are fed with organic trace minerals have higher milk yield and fat levels than those fed with inorganic trace minerals.

Organic zinc improves the resistance to mastitis due to the postulated role of Zn in Animal Nutrition maintaining the skin integrity and the keratin lining of the streak canal. Udder health can also be enhanced by reducing somatic cell counts. This is done by adding organic trace mineral supplements.

Types of OTMs

The different types of OTMs include:

● Glycinates

● Metal (specific amino acid) complexes

● Metal amino acid complexes

● Metal proteinates

● Metal polysaccharide complexes

● Metal propionates

Criteria to select OTM

There are a number of parameters to consider when choosing the right organic trace minerals - size, specificity, solubility and stability.

a) Solubility – High solubility in the gastrointestinal tract enables homogenous distribution and greater absorption.

b) Size – Small size leads to enhanced absorption and improved metabolic utilization.

c) Stability – Higher stability ensures reduced interaction, leading to protection from separation in the GIT.

d) Specificity – Standard molecular structure is important for consistent performance.

Glycinates

Glycinates are the smallest complex trace elements with the highest mineral content.

These are organically bound trace elements used as animal feed supplements due to their higher bioavailability. Glycinate usage results in higher animal performance and better animal vitality and productivity.

Performins

Performins is a range of organic trace mineral glycinates that enhances animal performance. This is the only trace mineral glycinate with separate formulations for broilers, dairy, layers, breeders, and shrimp. Performins is also available in the form of individual minerals - Performins Zinc, Performins Copper, Performins Iron and Performins Manganese

Inclusion

● Broiler(Birds): 0.5 Kg per MT of feed

● Layer(Poultry): 1 Kg per MT of feed

● Breeder: 1 Kg per MT of feed

● Dairy: 250 – 500 g per MT (Commercial)

7 – 10 g per head per day (Farm)