PROPER animal nutrition is key to successful livestock production. Good nutrition can increase feed efficiency and the rate of gain in animals. Animals must be fed diets that meet their bodily needs. If their needs are not properly met, the animals won’t grow, reproduce, or produce milk, and they could possibly die. Essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fat, water & trace elements are important for proper growth in all animals.
What are Vitamins?
Vitamins are organic nutrients needed in small quantities to perform specific functions like keeping the body healthy and promoting resistance to diseases. The deficiency of a vitamin can lead to disease or death. Vitamins are classified as fat soluble and water soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins stored in the fat and released as they are needed by the body. Fat-soluble vitamins can be stored for extended periods. They include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Water-soluble vitamins are vitamins dissolved by water. As water passes through the body, it carries out water-soluble vitamins. Thus, these vitamins need to be consumed every day by monogastric animals. Water-soluble vitamins are made by microorganisms in the rumen of a ruminant animal and by fermentation in the cecum of the horse. Water-soluble vitamins include Vitamin C and the B vitamins.
What are Minerals?
Minerals are inorganic elements found in small amounts in the body. Inorganic means that the substance does not contain carbon. To prevent mineral deficiency, minerals are included in livestock feed rations and are provided through free access to mineral and salt blocks. Mineral deficiencies can result in poor weight gain, poor feed efficiency, and poor reproductive traits. Minerals are classified as macro minerals or microminerals.
Importance & Benefits of Vitamins
The various applications and benefits of Vitamins due to which they are included in animal and poultry feed are:
Vitamin A provides good vision, and good growth and supports the immune system of the young animal. There are many types of vitamin B and they have numerous functions as a coenzyme in energy metabolism. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5 play an important role in digestion. Vitamin B1 also supports the function of the nervous system. An important role vitamin B12 have is in building (red) blood cells and together with vitamin C, is an important player in the prevention of anaemia.
Vitamin C
This vitamin C is known for its role in the absorption of iron and also plays a role in the synthesis of stress hormones. When stressed, animals have a higher risk of vitamin C deficiency. With iron deficiency, it is good to give extra vitamin C to ensure that the iron is better absorbed.
Vitamin D, especially vitamin D3, plays a major role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, which in turn is important for strong and healthy bones. Additionally, Vitamin D3 has an important function in the immune system, along with vitamin A. Vitamin D also stimulates appetite. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect against free radicals. Vitamin E also has a positive influence on meat quality thanks to its antioxidant effect. Vitamin E has a synergistic effect with vitamin C and selenium.
Importance & Benefits of Minerals
Minerals are absorbed by living nature from the soil and water. The minerals the body needs are Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Chloride (Cl), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). Na, Cl, and K largely determine the fluid balance of the body. That’s why they are important if an animal has diarrhoea. They also play an important role in the acid-base balance of the body. Calcium and magnesium are important for bones, muscle tension and milk production and together with potassium play a major role in cow milk disease. Furthermore, calcium ions are essential for the transmission of signals in nerve cells. Phosphorus is important for the metabolism in the bones and is an important building block of our DNA.