| MINERAL | MAJOR FUNCTION | SOME DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS | MAJOR INTERRELATIONSHIPS AND TOXICITIES |
| Sodium (Na) & Chlorine (Cl) - Salt | - Normal Appetite
- Meat and Egg Production- Regulation of Body Fluids - Nerve Transmission and Muscle Action |
- Reduced Growth and efficiency
of feed Utilisation in growing
animals
- Reduced production and weight loss in adults- Lowered reproduction (infertility in Males and delayed sexual maturity in Females) - Chicks on Cl-deficient diet exhibit nervous symptoms induced by sudden noise |
- Salt Toxicity is accentuated with restriction of Water |
| Calcium (Ca) | - Bone and Teeth Formation
- Blood Coagulation- Muscle Contraction- Nerve Function- Cell Permeability - Egg Shell Formation |
- Rickets in Young
- Bowed Legs in Chicks - Osteomalacia in Adults |
- Calcium/Phosphorous Ratio for
non-ruminants usually 1:1 - 2:1
- Vitamin D required- Excess Ca reduces absorption and Utilisation of Zn - Excess of Mg decreases Ca absorption |
| Phosphorous (P) | - Essential for Life
- Promotes Bone Growth- Increases Energy Utilisation- Aids Reproduction- Builds Muscle Tissue - Improves Feed Efficiency |
- Rickets in young and
Osteomalacia in Adults
- Stiffness- Poor Appetite- Urinary Problems- Slower Weight Gains- Reduced Conception in Hens- Reduced Meat and Egg Production - Less Resistance to Disease |
- Vitamin D required for P
assimilation and Utilisation
- Excess of Ca and Mg causes decrease in absorption |
| Magnesium (Mg) | - Essential for Normal Skeletal
Development
- Reduced Stress- Aids Appetite - Reduces Tissue Irritability |
- Vasolidation, with resulting
reduction in Blood Pressure
- Hyperirritability - Slipped Tendons |
- Excess upsets Ca and P metabolism |
| Potassium (K) | - Required in Every Cell
- Muscle Activity- Promotes Feed Intake - Reduces Stress |
- Retarded Growth
- Unsteady Gait- General Muscle Weakness - Abnormal Heart Beat |
- Mg Deficiency results in failure
to retain Potassium - resulting in
K deficiency
- Excessive levels of K interfere with Mg absorption and result in Mg deficiency |
| Sulfur (S) | - Essential for Life
- Promotes of Feed Intake- Essential for Meat and Egg Production - As a component of coenzyme A is important in energy metabolism |
- Retarded Growth
- Reduced Meat and Egg production |
- Related to the Amino Acids
cystine and methionine
- Related to Biotin, Thiamine and coenzyme A |
| MINERAL | MAJOR FUNCTION | SOME DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS | MAJOR INTERRELATIONSHIPS AND TOXICITIES |
| Iodine (I) | - Thyroid Gland Metabolism
- Regulation Rate of Body Metabolism and heat production |
- Dead in Shell
- Delayed Hatch- Incomplete Abdominal Closure - Decreased Performance |
- Long Term chronic intake of
large amounts of I reduces
Thyroid uptake of I
- Marked specie differences exist in tolerances to high intakes of I |
| Iron (Fe) | - A constituent of haemoglobin,
the iron containing compound that
transports Oxygen
- Cellular Oxidations - Metabolism of bone marrow, spleen and liver |
- Fe deficiency anaemia
- Retarded Growth - Incorrect Feather pigmentaiton |
- Related to haemoglobin
- Cu is required for proper Fe metabolism- Pyridoxine deficiency decreases absorption of Fe - Excess interferes with phosphorous absorption |
| Manganese (Mn) | - Essential for Normal Bone
Growth and Reproduction
- Activator of Enzyme Systems involved in oxidative phosphorylation, amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, fatty acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism. |
- Retarded Growth
- Lameness, Shortening and Bowing of Legs- Enlarged Joints- Testicle degeneration of Males- Defective ovulation of Females- Slipped Tendons- Peak Death prior to Hatch - Edema, malformations and abnormal feathering |
- Excess of Ca and P decreases absorption |
| Chromium (Cr) | - Insulin like effect on glucose metabolism | -Excess Chromium causes reduced growth and poor egg quality. | |
| Cobalt (Co) | - A component of Vitamin B12 | -Excess Cobalt causes reduced growth. | |
| Copper (Cu) | - Required for hemoglobin
formation
- Essential in Enzyme systems- Feather Development and Pigmentation - Bone Development- Reproduction - Shell Quality |
- Nervous symptoms (Ataxie)
- Early Embryo Death- Lameness and Swelling of Joints- High incidence of Bone Fractures- Weak Blood Vessels (aortic ruptures)- Incorrect Feather Pigmentation - Enlarged Heart |
- Excess of molybdenum in the
presence of Sulfate causes a
condition that can be cured by
administering Copper
- Excess of Copper is toxic |
| Fluorine (F) | - Excesses is more of a concern than deficiency | - High dietary Ca depresses F
uptake of bone
- F is a cumulative poison -Low quality phosphorus sources may contain unacceptable levels of F. | |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | - Uric Acid Formation | - Toxic levels more of a concern than deficiency | - Mo is related to uric acid
formation in Poultry and
microbial action in ruminants
- Toxic levels of Mo interfere with copper metabolism |
| Selenium (Se) | - Metabolism of Liver, Kidneys
and Muscles
- Interacts with Vitamin E absorption and retention - Prevents degeneration and fibrosis of the pancreas in chicks |
- Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy
in Lambs and Calves
- White Muscle Disease- Exudative diatheses in Poultry- Liver Necrosis in Pigs - Mulberry Heart- Reduction in Egg Production and hatchability- High incidence of early Embryonic Death - Deformities Common, including lack of eyes and deformed wings and feet |
- Related to Vitamin E Absorption |
| Silicon (Si) | - Mineralisation process in Bones | - Adverse affects from high Si intake rather than Si deficiency | |
| Zinc (Zn) | - Bone and Feather Development
- Component of several enzymes including carbonic anhydrase - Required for normal protein synthesis and metabolism |
- Loss of Appetite
- Stunted Growth- Poor Feather Development- Rough and Thickened Skin- Scaliness on Feed- Hock Enlargement- Slipped Tendons- Shortening and thickening of leg bones- Egg Yield and Hatchability - Feather condition of Offspring |
- Excess of Ca reduces absorption
and utilisation of Zn
- Excess of Zn interferes with Cu metabolism and may cause anaemia |
|
Fat Soluble | |||
| VITAMIN | MAJOR FUNCTION | SOME DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS | COMMENTS |
| Vitamin A | - Bone Growth
- Night Vision- Normal Function of Genital System and Fertility- Healthy Tissue - Disease Resistance |
- Lesions around the eyes, eyelids
stuck together
- Poor Egg Production- Poor Hatchability- Sterility in Males and Females- Stunted Growth- Weight Loss and Loss of Appetite- Nervous incoordination - Weak Chicks |
- Easily Destroyed by oxidation,
therefore easily destroyed in
processing and storing
- Functions with Calcium, Phosphorous and Magnesium |
| Vitamin D3 | - Aids in assimilation and
utilisation of Calcium and
Phosphorous
- Essential for normal bone growth including the bones of the fetus - Appetite and Feed Efficiency |
- Rickets in Young
- Osteomalacia in Adults- Reduced Growth- Leg Deformities - Poor Egg Shells- Lowered Hatchability- High Sickness Susceptibility- Defective or Soft Beak in Chicks - Incorrect Feather Pigmentation |
- Needs to be in adequate amounts to act as a carrier for Calcium and Phosphorous |
| Vitamin E | - Works with Selenium
- Antioxidant- Prevents Tissue Destruction in the Body- Muscle Structure- Aids in Conception and Reproduction - Improves Weight Gains and Feed Efficiency |
- Muscular Dystrophy
- White Muscle Disease- Encephalomalacia (Crazy Chick Disease)- Exudative diathesis- Poor Hatchability- High Chick Mortality - Sudden Death |
- Utilization of Vitamin E is dependent on adequate Selenium |
| Vitamin K | - Essential for prothrombin
formation
- Blood Coagulation |
- Prolonged Blood Clotting Time
- Generalised Haemorrhages - High Embryonic Mortality |
|
|
Water Soluble | |||
| Vitamin B12 | - Coenzyme in several enzyme
systems
- Required for Protein Formation- Aids in the prevention of Anaemia - Eliminates the need for Animal Protein in the Ration |
- Retarded Growth
- Fail to Hatch Eggs- Anaemia - Slipped Tendon in Chicks |
- Related to Folic Acid for
metabolism
- Works with Co |
| Biotin | - Component of several enzyme
systems
- Fatty Acid Synthesis - Protein Synthesis |
- Crusting and Scab formation
around eyes and beak
- Bottoms of Feet rough with haemorrhagic cracks- Curled toes - Low Hatchability |
|
| Choline | - Involved in Nerve Impulses
- A component of phospholipids- Donor of methyl groups - Mobilisation of Body Fat through the liver |
- Fatty Liver
- Slipped Tendon - Kidney Haemorrhaging |
- Increased deficiency symptoms
associated with low Protein
Levels
- Works with Niacin |
| Folic Acid (Folacin) | - Related to B12 Metabolism
- Metabolic reactions involving incorporation of single carbon units into larger molecules - Formation of erythrocytes and Leucocytes |
- Poor Growth
- Macrocytic Anaemia- Late Embryonic Death- Beak Deformities- Slipped Tendon- Frizzled and Rough Feathering- Incorrect Pigmentation - Poor Egg Production |
|
| Inositol | Not Known | - Spectacled Eye Appearance in Rats | - Synthesized in Intestines |
| Niacin (nicotinic acid) | - Constituent of coenzymes
- Hydrogen Transport- Energy Metabolism- Egg Production- Yield and Hatchability - Fat Mobilisation through the Liver |
- Retarded Growth
- Reduced Appetite- Spectacled Eye- Scaliness on Feet- Frizzled and Rough Feathering- Fatty Liver- Hock Enlargement- Bowed Legs - Curled Toes |
- Niacin available in most cereal
grains is not available to simple
stomached animals
- Works with Choline |
| Pantothenic Acid | - Component of coenzyme A
- Required for Energy metabolism- Plumage Quality- Viability of Offspring- Egg Production - Hatchability |
- Retarded Growth
- Poor Feathers- Enteritis- Dermatitis- Embryonic Death- Crusting and Scab Formation around Eyes and Beak - Bottoms of Feet Rough with Haemorrhagic Cracks |
- Grain is very deficient in
Pantothenic Acid
- Of all the B Vitamins it is most likely to be deficient in Dry Lot conditions |
| Parmino-benzoic Acid | Not Clearly Established | Not Demonstrated in Animals | Abundantly synthesised in the intestines |
| Pyridoxine (B6) | - Coenzyme in protein and
nitrogen metabolism
- Involved in Red Blood Cell Formation - Important in endocrine System |
- Convulsions
- Retarded Growth- Abnormal Feathering - Reduced Egg Laying and Hatchability |
|
| Riboflavin (B2) | - Promotes Growth Functions as a
constituent of several enzyme
systems
- Important in Carbohydrate and Amino Acid metabolism |
- Retarded Growth
- Curley Toes- Low Hatchability- High Embryonic Mortality during 3rd and 4th Week of Incubation- Low Food Conversion Rate - Poor Chick Quality |
- Grains poor source
- Many common rations are borderline or deficient. |
| Thiamine (B1) | - Coenzyme in Energy
Metabolism
- Promotes Appetite and Growth- Required for Normal Carbohydrate Metabolism- Aids Reproduction - Aids Hatchability |
- Reduced Appetite
- Weight Loss- Cardiovascular Disturbances- Lowered Body Temperature- Polyneuritis in Chicks (retraction of the head) - Reduced Egg Production in Hens |
|
| Vitamin C | - Callagen Formation
- Formation of the intercellular substances of the teeth, bones and soft tissue - Increases resistence to infection |
- No problems observed relating to Ostrich | - Ordinary farm rations and body synthesis provide adequate Vitamin C |