Dr. A V Siva Reddy, MVSc.
Brand Manager – Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd.
Introduction
Choosing the correct mineral supplement is crucial for optimising the health and productivity of your herd. Chelated minerals offer superior absorption and bioavailability, ensuring your cows get the full nutritional benefits they require. Unlike traditional inorganic minerals, chelated forms are more easily absorbed, supporting better growth, fertility, and overall health. In this article, we’ll explore which chelated minerals are most effective for specific needs, guiding you in selecting the right solution to improve the health, performance, and productivity of your dairy farm.
Why Choose Chelated Minerals Over Inorganic Forms?
Selecting chelated minerals over inorganic minerals in animal nutrition is often driven by the desire to enhance the bioavailability and effectiveness of the minerals provided to animals.
Here are some key reasons why chelated minerals are preferred:
Enhanced Bioavailability: Chelated minerals are more bioavailable than inorganic minerals, allowing for better absorption and utilisation by the animal.
Improved Absorption: The organic molecules surrounding the mineral help transport it across the intestinal membrane, leading to better uptake into the bloodstream.
Reduced Antagonistic Interactions: Chelated minerals are less likely to compete with other nutrients for absorption, ensuring more efficient mineral uptake.
Minimised Wastage: Since more of the supplemented minerals are absorbed, chelated minerals reduce wastage, improving cost-effectiveness and sustainability.
Targeted Nutrient Delivery: Chelated minerals can be tailored to deliver specific benefits, such as supporting skin, hooves, and immune health in livestock.
Reduced Risk of Toxicity: Chelated minerals regulate mineral release, reducing the risk of excessive accumulation and toxicity
Stability in Feed: Chelated minerals maintain their integrity during processing and storage, ensuring consistent nutrient levels in feed.
Improved Animal Performance: Chelated minerals enhance growth, reproduction, and overall health, thereby boosting farm productivity and profitability.
Different types of chelates commonly used in animal nutrition:
Amino Acid Chelates: Glycine Chelate, Methionine Chelate, Lysine Chelate, Threonine Chelate, Proline Chelate, Glutamic Acid Chelate
Organic Acid Chelates: Acetate Chelate, Propionate Chelate, Citrate Chelate, Lactate Chelate
Peptide Chelates: Peptidomineral Chelates
Protein Chelates: Caseinate Chelate, Albumin Chelate
Polyphenol Chelates: Tannin Chelate
Hydroxy Acid Chelates: Hydroxyproline Chelate
Nucleotides and Nucleic Acid Chelates: DNA/RNA Chelate
Among the most widely used chelated minerals in animal nutrition are Amino Acid Chelates (especially Methionine Chelates), Organic Acid Chelates (especially Propionate Chelates) due to their high bioavailability, stability, and effectiveness in enhancing mineral absorption and animal performance.
Which Type of Chelate is the best Option?
The choice between methionine chelated minerals and propionate chelated minerals depends on a few key factors:
1. Animal Species:
For Monogastric Animals (e.g., poultry, pigs, horses): Methionine chelates are typically the best option for monogastric animals. Methionine, being an essential amino acid, is well absorbed in the small intestine, and minerals chelated with methionine (such as zinc methionine or copper methionine) have shown superior bioavailability in these animals. This makes them ideal for enhancing growth, immune function, and reproductive performance in poultry and pigs.
For Ruminants (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats): Propionate chelates might be appropriate for ruminants, especially when cost is a concern. Rumen fermentation produces propionate, so chelates with propionate are often well absorbed in this environment. Propionate chelates can be effective in promoting the absorption of minerals like zinc, copper, and manganese in ruminants, and they are often more affordable than amino acid chelates.
2. Mineral Supplementation Needs:
If you’re targeting minerals like zinc, copper, and manganese, methionine chelates are often preferred for their superior bioavailability in monogastric animals. Propionate chelates may be a more practical and economical option for the cost-effective supplementation ofthese minerals in ruminants.
3. Specific Animal Requirements: If the animal has a high requirement for methionine (such as poultry or swine), using methionine-chelated minerals can provide the added benefit of fulfilling both mineral and amino acid needs simultaneously. Propionate chelates are a good option when minerals are the primary focus and the animal’s diet already meets or exceeds its methionine requirements.
Absorption Mechanisms of Methionine and Propionate Chelates in Ruminants:
In ruminants (such as cattle, sheep, and goats), the absorption mechanisms of methionine-chelated minerals (e.g., zinc methionine) and propionate-chelated minerals (e.g., zinc propionate) are influenced by the distinct physiology of ruminant digestion, particularly the presence of the rumen and microbial fermentation processes. These factors play a significant role in the effectiveness and absorption of these chelated minerals.
- Absorption Mechanism of Amino Acid Chelated Minerals in Ruminants
The Role of the Rumen: Methionine chelation occurs when an amino acid (like methionine) binds to a mineral (e.g., zinc, copper, manganese), forming a metal-amino acid complex. In ruminants, microbial fermentation in the rumen breaks down plant material and produces Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) like propionate, acetate, and butyrate, which are absorbed across the rumen wall. While methionine is essential, methionine chelated minerals must pass through the rumen and be absorbed in the small intestine for effective mineral delivery.
Absorption Process:
Rumen Microbial Degradation: Although methionine itself can be partially degraded by rumen microbes, methionine chelated minerals (e.g., zinc methionine) are more likely to escape rumen degradation than free amino acids or inorganic minerals like zinc sulphate. This is due to the chelation protecting the mineral from ionization or interaction with other dietary components that could interfere with absorption.
Small Intestine Absorption: After passing through the rumen, the metalamino acid complex reaches the small intestine. The chelating agent (methionine) facilitates absorption by binding to specific transporters in the small intestine. Amino acid transporters, particularly the neutral amino acid transporters (e.g., system L transporters), carry the mineral (e.g., zinc) across the intestinal membrane. Once inside the enterocyte (intestinal cell), the mineral dissociates from the amino acid and enters the bloodstream which transports to various tissues.
B. Absorption Mechanism of Propionate Chelated Minerals in Ruminants
The Role of Propionate: Propionate, a volatile fatty acid (VFA) produced during the microbial fermentation of carbohydrates in the rumen, plays a crucial role in the absorption of propionate chelates (e.g., zinc propionate, copper propionate). Propionate chelates differ from methionine chelates as they are bound to the propionate ion rather than amino acid.
Absorption Process:
Rumen Fermentation and Stability. Propionate chelates are stable in the ruminal environment, where the pH is typically acidic, and microbial fermentation produces VFAs like propionate. Propionate chelated minerals (e.g., zinc propionate) remain stable under these conditions, unlike inorganic minerals (e.g., zinc sulphate), which may dissociate or interact with other components like tannins or phytates, reducing absorption.
Absorption in the Small Intestine: After passing through the rumen, the propionate-chelated mineral complex reaches the small intestine, where it is absorbed. Propionate itself is absorbed via both sodium-dependent and sodium-independent transporters in the small
intestine. The mineral (e.g., zinc) is dissociated from the propionate and absorbed via metal ion transporters (e.g., Zrt-/lrt-like proteins for zinc). Once absorbed, the mineral enters the bloodstream and is transported to tissues.
Conclusion: In conclusion, both propionate and amino acid chelation can improve mineral absorption in ruminants, with each having its potential benefits. Amino acid chelation tends to offer better bioavailability and absorption efficiency, particularly for trace minerals. However, propionate chelation may still provide advantages in specific situations, such as stabilizing minerals in the rumen or reducing interactions with other dietary components.
