SUSTAINABILITY FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 63 eration trace minerals include organic minerals, with a strong covalent bond and a carbon ligand. There is a high variety in possible ligands (proteins, fats, single amino acids etc.) which creates some uncertainty as to the specific bond strength (differs per ligand). However, it is generally assumed that these organic minerals have high bioavailability. The third-generation products contain hydroxy trace minerals, with a strong covalent bond and hydroxy (non-carbon) ligand. Due to the low molecular weight of the hydroxy ligand, these products can contain high concentrations of trace elements which allow for low dosages in premixtures. The strong covalent bonds ensure optimal bioavailability of these minerals, and they can be compared to lollipops, allowing for a slow release. Because of this slow release, the product will not interact with other nutrients and ensure stability in the feed. In contrast to sulphates for example, which are known for reducing the bioavailability of other nutrients such as vitamins or enzymes (phytase). Solubility affects how minerals interact with other nutrients in feed. Since feed generally consists of around 88% dry matter and 12% moisture, products with high solubility will already interact with other nutrients in the feed. Figure 2 shows the differences between hydroxy copper and copper sulphate, where copper sulphate has high solubility, and will cause formation of insoluble complexes that will be excreted as environmental waste to a high extent. Hydroxy trace minerals have a slow release, therefore allowing for at the right time, at the right place, the trace element to be taken up by transporters in the small intestine with less competition for transporters at the beginning of the small intestine and optimal absorption. This reduces the excretion of environmental waste, reducing eutrophication and contributing to environmental sustainability. As mentioned before, mineral sources with high bioavailability are important when talking about optimizing feed sustainability. When replacing the first-generation trace minerals, bioavailability can be improved, which allows for lower dosages of the product while still achieving similar (or better) results. In broilers, a study with 870 Ross-308-day-old chicks compared the bioavailability of zinc and copper sulphate with hydroxy forms (Excential SMART Z + C, Orffa Additives BV), when the latter was supplemented at a lower dosage. The animals were divided over two treatments; 1. Control diet + 120 ppm zinc (zinc sulphate) + 15 ppm copper (copper sulphate) and 2: Control diet + 80 ppm zinc (hydroxy zinc) + 10 ppm copper (hydroxy copper). After Copper Sulphate Hydroxy copper Nutrients Insoluble complexes Copper sulphate Nutrients Insoluble complexes Intestinal tract Environmental waste Environmental waste Intestinal tract Bloodstream Liver Bloodstream Liver Smart Hydroxy Copper Figure 2. Hydroxy copper (Excential SMART, Orffa Additives BV) vs copper sulphate in the gastrointestinal tract
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