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University of Florida, Gainesville 32611 and University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55101
Abstract
The importance of mineral elements to the health and well-being of animals and humans has been recognized for centuries although individual elements involved were unknown. Common salt was recognized in Biblical times as a substance of value which was sought readily for consumption by both humans and animals. The beneficial results of providng subtances containing either fe or I were known long ago. It was not, however, until the late 1800's or early 1900's that significant progress began to occur in identifying mineral elements which were essential for animals life. Calcium, P, K, Na, Cl, Mg and S have been established as dietary essential nutrients and, based in part on quantities present in the animal body and amounts required, are designated frequently as "macro" or "major" mineral elements. Research has shown Fe, I, Cu, Co, Mn, Zn and Se to be essential and these elements are generally referred to as "micro" or "trace" mineral elements. All of the elements listed above are important in the production of ruminants and, in practical animal production, deficiencies of each element have been demonstrated and the particular deficiencies which occur have been shown to be influenced by the type of diet. Other micro mineral elements for which there is evidence for their essentiality in animals include Mo, V, Ni, Cr, Sn, Si, As and F. deficiencies of these elements, however, have not been verified in ruminants under practical conditions. The improvement in analytical techniques for the determination of mineral elements, especially the development of atomic absorption spectrometry as an analytical tool, has greatly facilitated increased nutrition research with many of the mineral elements. Further development in analytical capabilities for determining S, I, and CI is needed to increase the research effort with these elements. A greater knowledge in the future of the function and metabolism of all mineral elements will improve the effectiveness with which they are used in practical ruminant nutrition. This information can provide a better understanding of factors influencing minimum dietary and tissue level requirements, maximum tolerable levels, and metabolic interrelationships among minerals and between minerals and other dietary nutrients. Improved biological assay techniques are needed to allow supplemental sources of the mineral elements, which are so important to animal production, to be evaluated more quickly by less involved procedures.
Key Words: Mineral Nutrition • Ruminants • Bioavailability • Mineral Interrelationships • Mineral Tolerances
1 Dept. of Anim. Sci., Univ of Florida.
2 Dept. of Anim. Sci., Univ. of Minnesota.
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