Minerals and vitamins Flashcards
What are the sources of vitamins and minerals in the diet?
Minerals come from inorganic (‘ash’) fraction
Vitamins are organic
what vitamins are essential in ruminant diet?
A
D
E
(K and B are required by are synthesised by rumen)
What is pica?
behavioural disorder where the animal eats non-food items
What are macro and micro/trace elements?
Micro/trace elements:
- essential nutrients required in small amounts
Macro elements:
- essential nutrients required in large amounts
What are the essential microminerals?
Iron
Copper
Zinc
Manganese
Selenium
Cobalt
Iodine
What are the essential macrominerals?
calcium
phosphorous
magnesium
potassium
sodium and chloride
Sulphur
why are ruminants more likely to suffer mineral probelms?
rumen is not optimised for digesting minerals
What is the effects of high calcium on other macrominerals?
Increased uptake of molydenum
Lowered manganese, zinc, copper and cobalt
Reduced magnesium absorption
What is the impact of phosphorous in excess of calcium?
inhibits absorption of calcium
ideal Ca:P = 2:1
What is the impact of high dietary potassium on other macrominerals?
inhibits magnesium absorption
What is the interaction between high dietary cations (esp. K and Na) on other macrominerals
inhibits calcium mobilisation
What is the interaction between high dietary sulphur and other macrominerals?
inhibits absorption of selenium
What is the micromineral interaction between iron and manganese?
Iron reduced manganese availability
What is the effect of selenium deficiency on other microminerals?
=> iodine deficiency
Describe copper interactions in the ruminant
Sulphur and molydenum form thiomolybdate => attract copper, making it unavailable (secondary deficiency/ ‘lock up’)
Which vitamins are water soluble and fat soluble?
Water soluble:
C, B
Fat soluble:
A, D, E, K
Describe the effect of sulphur toxicity and vitamin B1 deficiency in ruminants
Elevated rumen sulphide conc (from diet) destroys microbial B1 (thiamine)
Functional B1 production halted by increased thiaminase-producing bacteria
B1 deficiency disrupts enzymes in energy metabolism pathways
Damages superficial brain tissue due to altered glucose metabolism
=> blindness, mal-coordination, lethargy, seizures
Describe vitamin B12 synthesis
Rumen microbes synthesise B12 from dietary cobalt
B12 absorbed in intestine, transferred, to blood, stored in liver and muscles or secreted in milk
Describe the mineral audit