Use of organic minerals in the broiler diet ensures greater performance

Organic minerals improve the use and bioavailability for animals, especially when compared to inorganic sources. They enable greater absorption and better use by animals, providing better results for production. 

For the veterinarian and technical director of Yes, Carlos Ronchi, the main reasons to use organic minerals in place of inorganic ones are. “Basically there are seven reasons, namely: better stability and solubility of the molecule, better absorption efficiency, better bioavailability, better zootechnical and economic results; less concentration in diets, less environmental impact and greater control of contaminants”.

Organic minerals increase the stability and solubility of the mineral molecule by promoting fluid movement through the lipid membranes of enterocytes. They also have better absorption efficiency – as they use the same amino acid and small peptide absorption pathways – which can be identified in three different ways: absorption by the sodium and potassium pump with gastroenergetics through pepT1; by transcellular movement; and through the interlaminar space of the enterocytes. Therefore, its absorption is more efficient when compared to minerals that use facilitated diffusion.

The better bioavailability of organic minerals is related to a greater concentration in systemic blood circulation and tissues. Comparing organic and inorganic minerals - having the reference 100% - YES organic minerals have 185,34% more bioavailability, compared to inorganic minerals. “In other words, if we use 100 milligrams per kilogram/ration of zinc in inorganic form, just use 54 milligrams in organic form”, explains Ronchi.

The zootechnical and economic results are among the highlights of the use of organic minerals in the diet, as they present greater stability of the molecule – which passes more easily through enterocytes. The result is a greater concentration of minerals available to the animal and improved feed conversion and weight gain. 

“In addition, we have a lower concentration in the diet, that is, where 100% of inorganic is used, just use 55% of organic. This change widens the space in the formula that can be filled with another ingredient. In terms of lower environmental impact, we need to understand that more important than absorption is mineral retention, as an animal can consume something and excrete it through feces or urine. In the organic form, animals can show up to 60% more retention than in the inorganic form”, emphasizes the Yes specialist who adds: “Having more retention means greater zootechnical and economic performance”. 

One last reason that needs to be taken into account for the use of organic minerals is the control of contaminants. “When working with minerals, it is necessary to have control of the main heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, as well as dioxins and PCB's”, adds Ronchi.

Use of organic minerals in broiler nutrition

Organic minerals represent less than 0.1% of weight and 1 to 2% of feed cost. They are fundamental for the growth, metabolism, reproduction and health of animals. In recent decades, broilers have shown a constant improvement in performance, for example, in 1957, feed conversion was 3.84 and now 1.70, according to Havestein (2003).

Professor and Doctor Horacio Rostagno, known for developing Brazilian tables of nutritional requirements for poultry and swine, warns that the addition of organic minerals has changed little over the years. "We see that it is necessary to update this reality, as today we have a greater need in mg/kg of diet to express the bird's maximum genetic potential."

Yes organic minerals x inorganic

Inorganic minerals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn) are easily eliminated in the intestine, as they can undergo changes in a certain pH. They are also more likely to antagonize absorption, as in the case of calcium and zinc, for example. Inorganics have negative interactions with some dietary factors, such as phytates and polyphenols. 

Organic minerals are a combination of a mineral with organic molecules such as amino acids and small peptides. There are several types of organic minerals on the market, such as: amino acid metal complex, amino acid metal chelate, proteinate metal and polysaccharide metal. The mineral usually forms a complex or is associated with organic molecules and some of its main characteristics are its high availability and absorption. They have fewer antagonist interactions, increase retention in organs and tissues, have less oxidative stress, lower risk of environmental contamination – less excretion – and a lower level of supplementation.

Rostagno claims that the use of premix of microminerals simplifies the balancing of diets. “The addition of microminerals to the modern diet is essential for maximum animal performance. Organic minerals avoid the main disadvantages of inorganics. An example of this is that the availability of organic zinc from Yes, a company that develops biotechnological solutions for effective, safe and sustainable animal nutrition, is 185.3% higher than sulfate zinc, in comparison with 100%”.

When compared to zinc sulfate, Yes zinc results in improved conversion and weight gain. In addition, an excellent performance was obtained in broilers fed corn/soymeal/phytase diets supplemented with 40 and 80 mg/kg of organic Zn from Yes. “In all analyzed scenarios, the use of organic minerals from Yes Yes promoted excellent performance, resulting in larger birds with a more efficient absorption, ensuring greater profitability”, concludes Horacio Rostagno.

About Yes

Yes, a biotechnology company in animal nutrition, develops and produces nutritional additives such as mycotoxin adsorbents, prebiotics, organic minerals, blends and yeast derivatives with the objective of improving the performance and health of animals. All products comply with the strictest laws in world markets such as the United States and Europe. Founded in 2008, Yes has a head office in Campinas/SP, four production plants, one in Lucélia/SP, one in Novo Horizonte/SP, one in Borá/SP and one in Conceição da Barra/ES, a center for Logistics and Distribution in Lucélia/SP, another in Cascavel/PR, in addition to the opening, in 2020, of a new DC located in Mexico. It operates throughout Brazil, in addition to exporting to over 37 countries, being present in Latin America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia. Since 2016 the company has been part of the investment fund's portfolio of investees Aqua Capital.

More information: www.yes.ind.br