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
What do the samples collected from the animal in a mineral audit indicate?
Concentrations in blood used to detect deficiencies
Enzyme functions used for microminerals at marginal or normal concs
Liver concentrations show accumulation and depletion
Urine can show dietary supply or excess
What is the role of calcium and the signs of a calcium deficiency?
skeletal formation, milk production, nerve function
Tremors close to birthing
Depressed and abnormal growth in young stock
Weak bones
Spontaneous fractures
What is the function of phosphorous and signs of its deficiency?
Skeletal formation, energy utilisation and metabolism
Reduced growth, decreased appetite, reduced milk production, fragile bones (osteomalacia)
what is Mg used for and what are the signs of its deficiency?
muscle control, nerve function, enzymatic function
anorexia, decreased feed intake, un-coordinated movement, muscle twitching
What is the function of Fe and the signs of its toxicity
Blood cell formation and enzyme activity
inhibits copper absorption, bacterial infection, diarrhoea, reduced feed intake, weight gain
What is the function of Cu and the signs of its deficiency
Enzyme systems, respiration, fertility
anaemia, fragile bones, infertility, delayed oestrus, reduced immune function, neonatal ataxia, hair and pigmentation loss, ill-thrift
What are the signs of copper toxicity
haemolytic crisis (jaundice, haematuria)
What are the functions of Co and the signs of its deficiency
Vit B12 production
B12 deficiency, poor immune function, pale skin and mucosa, ill-thrift
What are the function of selenium and the signs of its deficiency
Antioxidant
White muscle disease (wasting), poor repro performance, ill thrift, stiff gait, weak calves
What is the function of iodine and the signs of its deficiency
metabolism
Goiter, reduced fertility, hairless calves
What are the signs of lead toxicity?
anorexia, rumen stasis, colic, constipation followed by diarrhoea
If severe poisoning: neurological signs, blindness, head pressing, loss of co-ordination
what is the role of vitamin A and the signs of its deficiency
vision, bone growth, immunity, maintenance of epithelial tissue
night blindness, poor growth, poor coats, suppressed immunity, retained placenta, impaired fertility
What is the function of Vit d and the signs of its deficiency?
Ca and P metabolism, immune function
soft, porous, poorly developed bones (rickets)
inappetence, decreased growth, stiff gait, stillborn and deformed calves
What is the function of vitamin E and the signs of its deficiency
antioxidant, immune function and development, muscle growth
Poor immune status, muscular myopathy, white muscle disease
what is the function of vit K and what are the signs of its deficiency
blood clotting factors
poor blood clotting, internal bleeding, haemotoma
What are the risk factors of vit k deficiency?
mouldy silage
what are the risk factors of vit E deficiency
youngstock
drought
lack of green pasture
what are the risk factors of vit D deficiency
youngstock
year round housing
heavy coted, thick wooled and dark pigmented animals
what are the risk factors of vit A deficiencyt
youngstock
pasture in drought
lack of green pasture at parturition
breed
stress
what are the risk factors of lead toxicity
contact with lead-containing objects or ingestion of lead contaminated soil
what are the risk factors of iodine deficiency
low iodine during gestation
goitrogens in feed
high rainfall
what are the risk factors of selenium deficiency
youngstock
high rainfall
lush pasture
phosphate fertiliser
clover-based sward
what are the risk factors of cobalt deficiency
youngstock
lush grazing
dry weather
what are the risk factors of copper toxicity
stressors
illness
common in sheep
what are the risk factors of copper deficiency
low pasture Cu
high levels of antagonists in diet
what are the risk factors of iron toxicity
high Fe pastures
soil contamination of silages
what are the risk factors of Mg deficiency
high K or N (fertiliseed pasture)
Spring grass
Cold snaps
stress
what are the risk factors of phosphorous deficiency
older mothers
mature pastures
AI contamination
low soil phosphorous
what are the risk factors of Ca deficiency
older mothers
reduced dry matter intake
low Mg, high P, low Ca feeds
