Trace Mineral Supplementation in Animal Nutrition

Trace minerals such as zinc, copper, manganese and selenium are indispensable micronutrients that serve as cofactors for enzymes, regulators of gene expression and mediators of antioxidant defence in livestock species. Optimal supplementation ensures adequate growth rates, reproductive performance and immune competence by maintaining redox balance, supporting bone and tissue development, and facilitating metabolic pathways. Strategies for supplementation encompass inorganic salts (oxides, sulfates) and organic complexes (chelates, amino acid complexes), each differing in stability and absorption. Organic forms often exhibit enhanced bioavailability and reduced dietary antagonisms, enabling lower inclusion rates while conserving resources and minimising environmental excretion. Balancing interactions among minerals and interactions with dietary components is critical to prevent antagonistic effects and toxicity. Recent advances in analytical techniques—from metalloproteomics to gut microbiome profiling—have elucidated the molecular responses to mineral status, guiding precision nutrition approaches. The global significance of trace mineral supplementation lies in improving production efficiency, animal welfare and sustainable livestock management, with direct implications for food security and environmental stewardship.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has employed metalloproteomic mapping to reveal how varying sources and levels of copper and manganese affect the hepatic proteome of broilers. Hydroxychloride forms of copper and manganese demonstrated greater bioavailability than conventional sulphate sources, as evidenced by elevated metal concentrations in liver tissue. Differential expression of stress-related proteins, including heat shock and detoxification enzymes, highlighted the cellular adaptations to high mineral intakes. These findings underscore the value of proteomic tools in assessing trace mineral utilisation and tolerance, and they inform the selection of more bioavailable sources to optimise performance while reducing excessive excretion.

Trace Mineral Supplementation in Animal Nutrition publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in trace mineral supplementation in animal nutrition across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bioavailability: Proportion of an administered nutrient that is absorbed and utilised by the animal’s body.

Inorganic trace minerals (ITMs): Common mineral salts such as oxides and sulfates, often less stable and more prone to antagonism in feed matrices.

Organic trace minerals (OTMs): Minerals bound to organic ligands (amino acids, peptides or chelates) designed to improve stability and absorption.

Chelation: Process of forming a stable complex between a mineral ion and an organic ligand to enhance solubility and uptake.

Antioxidant capacity: Ability of biological systems or feed additives to neutralise reactive oxygen species and prevent cellular damage.

Metalloproteomics: Analytical approach combining proteomics and metal analysis to identify and quantify metal-binding proteins and their responses to mineral status.

References

1. Effects of Trace Mineral Source on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Activity, and Meat Quality of Pigs Fed an Oxidized Soy Oil Supplemented Diet. Antioxidants (2024).
2. Effects of zinc supplementation from organic and inorganic sources on growth, blood biochemical indices, and intestinal microarchitecture in broilers. Veterinary Quarterly (2024).
3. Metalloproteomic analysis of liver proteins isolated from broilers fed with different sources and levels of copper and manganese. Scientific Reports (2024).