{"id":23644,"date":"2024-12-17T13:20:20","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T12:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tecnozoo.it\/2024\/12\/17\/vitamins-and-mineral-salts-updates-on-dairy-cow-supplementation\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T20:29:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T19:29:55","slug":"vitamins-and-mineral-salts-updates-on-dairy-cow-supplementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tecnozoo.it\/en\/2024\/12\/17\/vitamins-and-mineral-salts-updates-on-dairy-cow-supplementation\/","title":{"rendered":"VITAMINS AND MINERAL SALTS: updates on dairy cow supplementation"},"content":{"rendered":"

VITAMINS AND MINERAL SALTS:
\nupdates on dairy cow supplementation<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Trace mineral and vitamin supplementation in high-producing dairy cows plays a crucial role in ensuring animal health, productivity and fertility. Cows subjected to high metabolic demands may experience nutritional deficiencies that impair their ability to produce high-quality milk. <\/em><\/p>\n

Adequate intake of trace elements and vitamins supports the immune system, promotes reproductive performance and improves milk quality. In addition, proper supplementation helps prevent metabolic disorders, optimising animal well-being and increasing production efficiency. Investing in trace mineral and vitamin nutrition is therefore essential for the sustainability and profitability of modern livestock farms. <\/em>
\nIn this article, we will explore in depth the aspects, including biochemical ones, of trace mineral\u2013vitamin interactions in dairy cows and analyse the updated dietary requirements of rations.<\/em><\/p>\n

MINERALS<\/strong>
\nInteraction between minerals and bioavailability in dairy cows<\/h2>\n
Before delving into the world of minerals and vitamins, it is important to focus on the essential difference between requirement and adequate intake.<\/div>\n
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In dairy cow nutrition, the distinction between requirement and adequate intake is fundamental to ensure optimal health and efficient production.<\/p>\n

Here are the main differences:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Requirement: refers to the specific amount of nutrients that a dairy cow needs to maintain health, support milk production, ensure reproduction and promote overall well-being. It depends on various factors, including:<\/div>\n
-Age<\/div>\n
– Stage of lactation (pre-partum, lactation, post-partum)<\/div>\n
– Body weight<\/div>\n
– Level of milk production<\/div>\n
– Environmental and management conditions<\/div>\n
It includes macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and water.<\/div>\n
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Adequate intake: refers to the actual amount consumed by the dairy cow through the diet.
This value must be sufficient to meet nutritional requirements. Monitoring adequate intake is essential to ensure that cows receive a balanced and satisfactory diet. Factors influencing intake include: <\/div>\n
\u2022 Forage quality and palatability<\/div>\n
\u2022 Feed availability<\/div>\n
\u2022 Ration composition<\/div>\n
\u2022 Feeding behaviour<\/div>\n
of the animals<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If intake is lower than requirements, nutritional deficiencies may occur, compromising animal health, milk production and reproduction. Conversely, excessive nutrient intake, particularly energy, can lead to problems such as obesity and metabolic diseases. <\/div>\n
In dairy cow nutrition, proper mineral supplementation is essential to ensure animal health, milk production and reproductive performance. However, minerals do not act in isolation. Their interactions can influence bioavailability, that is, the body\u2019s ability to absorb and utilise them effectively. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In dairy cows, mineral absorption occurs mainly in the gastrointestinal tract. Below is an overview of the main absorption sites: <\/p>\n

1. Rumen:<\/strong>
\nThis first compartment of the cow\u2019s digestive system is essential for microbial digestion and plays a less significant role in mineral absorption, although some absorption of magnesium, calcium and potassium occurs through the rumen wall.<\/p>\n

2. Small intestine:<\/strong>
\nThis is the primary site of mineral absorption, particularly:
\n\u2022 Duodenum and jejunum: absorption of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc and copper takes place here.
\n\u2022 Calcium: absorbed actively in the initial portion of the small intestine, with the aid of vitamin D, which regulates its transport across the intestinal mucosa.
\n\u2022 Phosphorus: absorbed mainly in the duodenum, with absorption efficiency also regulated by vitamin D.
\n\u2022 Magnesium: as mentioned, part of magnesium is absorbed in the rumen, but the majority is absorbed in the small intestine.<\/p>\n

3. Caecum and colon:<\/strong>
\nThese segments of the large intestine play a more limited role in mineral absorption compared to the small intestine, but they can contribute to a lesser extent to the absorption of electrolytes such as sodium, chloride and potassium, and in some cases water.<\/p>\n

4. Finally, a portion of minerals is reabsorbed at the renal level; in fact, the kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining electrolyte and mineral balance.
Some minerals filtered from the blood in the renal glomeruli are reabsorbed in the renal tubules to prevent excessive losses through urine. This process allows regulation of the concentration of essential electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphate, which are crucial for physiological functions including muscle contraction, nerve conduction and milk production. Reabsorption is influenced by hormones such as aldosterone, which modulates sodium reabsorption, and parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium, ensuring a mineral balance suited to the animal\u2019s productive and metabolic needs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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CALCIUM FAST LIQUID
\nLiquid complementary feed for dairy cows, lactating sheep and goats
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CALCIUM FAST LIQUID contains calcium in highly bioavailable organic forms:<\/p>\n