Role of Mineral Chelates in Health and Production of Animals

Traditionally, trace elements are supplemented in the diet of the animals as inorganic salts. However, recently there are many reports indicating that absorption and utilization of trace elements is comparatively far better if they are supplemented in the chelated forms related to their inorganic salts. A large number of studies conducted on chelated forms of trace elements indicate that they not only improve the performance of the animals in respect of growth, milk production, wool production or reproduction but they are effective in reducing the various stresses and also improve the immune response of the animals against many infections. The term chelate is derived from a Greek word “chele” which means claw. Chele refers to the claw like structure of the chelate molecule, suggested by the open V-shape of the two ligands on two sides, with the mineral ion in the centre. Various chelates include metal amino acid chelates, metal polysaccharide complexes and yeast derivative complexes etc. A number of trace elements in their organic form have been prepared, but only few of them have been studied. This mineral chelates provide better nutrition, grater bioavailability and increased stability of the minerals in the body.