Swine Nutritional Necessities
Minerals by Necie Davis
Functions of Minerals in the Body
Minerals play a huge role in growing swine. Swine need them more than other live stock because they reproduce at an early age and they have a rapid growth rate. Another difference is that swine typically have bigger litters than the rest of livestock.The main minerals are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and chlorine. The trace minerals are potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, iodine, iron, copper, and selenium. Functions of minerals in the body include:
* Metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates
* The structure of chromosomes, enzymes, nerves, blood, skeleton, hair and milk
* Assisting in reproduction
* Growth and production
* Assists in building up a resistance to diseases and parasites
* Assisting with digestion
Mineral Deficiency
As a result that minerals play a big part in pigs health, many health issues will come if not provided with the correct amount. If their diet lacked calcium and phosphorus growing pigs could get rickets and osteomalacia in mature pigs. If low in salt their growth rate will drop. In some cases if the mother is not given the proper amount of iodine the piglets will be born hairless or stillborn. Improper levels of iron and copper reduce the rate of HGB formation and produce nutritional anemia.
Three Most Common Sources of Minerals
Soybean Meal
This has a lot of protein which is good for most minerals.
Corn
Ground cobs, corn meal, whole kernels are a few examples of ways swine can eat corn.
Nutritional Supplement
Some minerals are not covered by the two previous sources. Nutritional supplements will compensate for those not covered.
Mineral Abundance
All minerals have a toxic level, even trace minerals. An abundance of calcium can change the absorption of other important nutrients. It is very easy for swine to have a toxic level of salt which is caused by dehydration. If the pig suffers from too much copper in the liver and other organs symptoms are jaundice, bloody feces, and anemia. Zinc is needed for the epidermal tissue development but if given too much it can result in reduced growth, arthritis, hemorrhage in axillary spaces, gastritis and death.