Nutrient Profiling – Mineral Supplementation

An animal’s requirements for TM begin while it is in utero, as TM are essential for proper embryonic development and survival (Ashworth and Antipatis, 2001; Hostetler et al., 2003). Moreover, TM deficiencies of the developing fetus carry over into the postnatal period with lesser TM storage in tissues of the neonates, further limiting neonatal growth, development, performance and immunity. During late gestation, the fetus undergoes a rapid phase of growth and increases its nutrient demands from the gestating dam to meet the needs of its developing organs. As gestation progresses, the fetal stores of TM in the body as a whole and particularly the liver increase (Hansard et al., 1968; Hidiroglou, 1980; Gooneratne and Christensen, 1989). Increased fetal and subsequent lactation TM demands increase the TM and nutrient requirements of late gestating and lactating animals. An animal’s requirement for TM will ultimately vary depending upon its age, stage of production, and breed or genotype; necessitating the development of supplementation strategies that vary in response to the animals’ level/stage of production (McDowell, 2003).