Deficiencias minerales en bovinos para carne: diagnóstico, caracterización y control

Abstract

The worldwide increase in food demand added to the technification and the rapid progress of the farms in there endeavor in rising animal productivity and nutritive value. In particular, the amount and type of minerals define the food value, now considered as essential elements in animal feed, before neglected and traditionally cattle feed were poor in nutrients. Today, clinical trials and productive evidences have shown the importance of the metabolic role of minerals in healthy and high producing animals. Additionally, the role of the different minerals and the percentage thereof required for normal body functioning has been defined. The macro-minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chlorine and sulfur) and trace minerals (copper, zinc, iron, selenium, cobalt, iodine, manganese, molybdenum and chromium) are essential elements and needed to transform protein and energy of the foods into body components or in animal products such as milk, meat, new gestations, fur and wool. Those minerals also strengthen the health of the animals, preventing them from diseases and/or heightening their resistance. The minerals have been considered as the third limiting group in animal nutrition and at the same time, minerals have the greatest potential and represent the lowest cost in increasing livestock production. Minerals are essential building blocks of bone and tooth structure, soft tissue and body fluids. They are involved in cell function, being activators of more than three hundred enzymes, being essential constituents of vitamins, hormones and respiratory pigments and facilitating the activity of rumen microorganisms. When the supply of minerals in the diet is inadequate in quality and/or quantity deficiencies appear, associated with metabolic diseases and loss in production. The effects of deficiencies in minerals have been reported in most countries and represent significant economic losses in herds of animal cattle. Deficiencies and/or mineral imbalances can cause the following disorders: low percentage of calving, more services per conception, abortions, placental retention, increased calving interval, low milk production, low birth weight and weaning, low weaning rate, low weight gain, increased incidence of infectious diseases, spontaneous fractures, diarrhea, deformation of bones and mortality. Diagnosis of deficiencies in the mineral nutrient content of blood samples of animals, the food and water they consume are basic to be able of defining an appropriate mineral supplementation plan at farm level.