What are the functions and advantages of organic trace elements zinc, copper, manganese and selenium?
Trace elements are essential nutrients for animals to maintain life and production, and one of its characteristics is that it is used in small doses but has a large effect. Although the content of trace elements in living organisms is less than 0.01%, they are involved in almost all physiological and biochemical processes in the body, and are closely related to animal growth and health. They are involved in the formation and activation of enzymes, vitamins and hormones in the animal body; they are also involved in the regulation of material metabolism, and determine the growth, development and reproduction functions of the organism, as well as the productivity and product quality of animals. Therefore, the supply and absorption and utilization of trace elements are crucial.
Role of trace elements
Zinc, copper, manganese and hoof disease in dairy cows
Hoof disease is one of the three major diseases in dairy farming, which can bring huge losses to dairy farmers every year. Therefore, controlling hoof disease through feeding management and nutritional management of dairy cows is also a priority in dairy farming.
Zinc and hoof disease
Zinc is a component of many enzymes and proteins in the animal body, and can participate in many metabolic reactions. It is one of the most critical mineral elements in the keratinization process of the hoof. Zinc is involved in the activation of enzymes that catalyze the differentiation of keratin-forming cells. At the same time, zinc is essential for the synthesis of keratin and keratins, which enhance the hardness and integrity of the hoof; zinc is involved in the formation of collagen, which is directly involved in the division of primitive chondrocytes, which in turn affects the calcification of bone. The amount of zinc in the bone affects the density of the bone; the higher the zinc content, the greater the density of the bone, and vice versa. When zinc deficiency occurs, the animal will occur skin keratinization insufficiency, hoof hardness and integrity decreased, hoof shell deformation, cracking, abnormal bone development and other pathological phenomena.
Copper and hoof disease
Copper is a component of many enzymes, and copper can activate cytochrome oxidase, lysyl oxidase, mercapto oxidase, thiol oxidase, amino oxidase and so on. Copper deficiency will lead to insufficient quantity of the above enzymes, which will lead to insufficient energy supplied to the keratinized cells; lead to the integrity of hoof keratinocytes being affected; lead to the structural strength of the keratinized cell matrix being affected; affect the formation of isoallantoin and allantoin, which is not conducive to the formation of structurally intact collagen and elasticity of normal scleroproteins, therefore, copper plays an important role in the process of bone and keratin formation. Copper deficiency in dairy cows can easily lead to hoof cracks, hoof rot, hoof sole abscesses and other hoof diseases.
Manganese and hoof disease
Manganese is an activator of many enzymes. Manganese deficiency in dairy cows can lead to insufficient synthetic enzymes that promote the synthesis of acidic mucopolysaccharides in the cartilage and bone matrix, thus affecting the synthesis of cartilage and collagen; Manganese deficiency in dairy cows can lead to affected synthesis of the chondroitin sulfate side chain of the proteoglycan molecule, which is an important component of normal cartilage and bone. Manganese deficiency in dairy cows leads to insufficient synthesis of carbohydrates that provide energy to hoof keratinocytes, which in turn affects keratinization of hoof keratinocytes. When animals are deficient in manganese, cartilage growth is impaired and can lead to deformities in the skeleton. The deposition of other inorganic substances in the bone is also affected by manganese. Therefore, manganese deficiency in dairy cows can cause deformities in the bones and joints of the limbs leading to limb and hoof disease.
Zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and oxidative stress
Oxidative stress means that when the body is subjected to various harmful stimuli, highly active molecules in the body, such as reactive oxygen radicals and reactive nitrogen radicals, produce too much, the degree of oxidation exceeds the removal of oxides, the oxidative system and antioxidant system is imbalanced, resulting in tissue damage, which is an important factor leading to the development of disease and aging of the organism. The stronger the body’s ability to resist oxidative stress, the less likely the cow is to contract disease.
Zinc and oxidative stress
Zinc plays an important role in the organism’s resistance to oxidative stress. Zinc can prevent metal ions from reacting with hydrogen peroxide and superoxide to form hydroxyl radicals. Zinc is one of the important metal cofactors of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), and a deficiency of zinc significantly reduces Cu/Zn-SOD activity. Zinc activates glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the body and reduces free radicals in the body. Zinc deficiency reduces the amount of active GSH-Px in the organism, leading to increased lipid peroxidation, resulting in increased GSH-Px consumption and reduced activity. Zinc also induces hepatic synthesis of metallothionein (MT), which counteracts free radical damage.
Copper and oxidative stress
Moderate amounts of copper have an anti-oxidative stress effect in organisms. Copper is an essential component of copper cyanoproteins, which are resistant to free radical damage; copper is the active center of copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) in the enzyme antioxidant system. Copper deficiency leads to a significant decrease in the content of copper-cyanin and the activity of Cu/Zn-SOD, resulting in a decrease in the antioxidant capacity of the organism. Copper deficiency can lead to the deposition of iron in the tissues of the organism, and iron can lead to the production of free radicals.
Manganese and oxidative stress
Manganese is an important component of Mn-SOD, which mainly exists in the mitochondrial matrix, and is a free radical scavenger in organisms, and its main role is to avoid the damage of free radicals to the mitochondrial membrane. Manganese deficiency reduces the activity of Mn-SOD, thus reducing the antioxidant capacity of the organism.
Selenium and oxidative stress
Selenium is a component of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), an important component of the cellular antioxidant system, which reduces peroxidized lipids and ensures the integrity of biological membranes. Selenium deficiency not only leads to poor placenta, but also impairs the ability of neutrophils to kill bacteria, leading to an increase in mastitis.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
