Minerals

Question 1

What are minerals?

Answer 1

Naturally occurring inorganic elements
Cannot be synthesized by the body
Come from the diet, soil, and water

Question 2

What is the average mineral content in the body?

Answer 2

3.5%

Question 3

How does ash measure inorganic compounds in the feed?

Answer 3

Provides an estimate of the total amount of inorganic compounds in the feed
High values = contamination

Question 4

How are minerals digested?

Answer 4

In simple ionic form

Question 5

How are minerals absorbed?

Answer 5

Active and passive transport into the circulatory system
Affected by feed composition, chemical compounds, interactions with other feedstuffs

Question 6

What are the major minerals?

Answer 6

Calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, potassium, and chlorine

Question 7

What are the functions of calcium?

Answer 7

Skeletal formation, blood clotting, rhythmic heart action, neuromuscular excitability, membrane permeability, enzyme activators

Question 8

What can happen if there is a deficiency in calcium?

Answer 8

Rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, hypocalcemia, egg shell deformities

Question 9

What is rickets?

Answer 9

Happens in young
Misshapen bones, enlarged joints, lameness, stiffness

Question 10

What is osteomalacia?

Answer 10

Happens in adults
Misshapen bones, enlarged joints, lameness, stiffness

Question 11

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 11

Happens in adults
Decreased bone mass due to an increase in calcium resorption

Question 12

What is milk fever?

Answer 12

Happens after birth
Lack of calcium due to milk production leads to reduced milk production and possible infection

Question 13

What are the functions of phosphorous?

Answer 13

Skeletal formation, regulating blood calcium levels, forming phospholipids, nucleic acids, coenzymes, energy metabolism

Question 14

What are the functions of magnesium?

Answer 14

Skeletal formation, nerve and muscle function, enzyme cofactor, energy metabolism

Question 15

What does a deficiency in magnesium cause?

Answer 15

Muscle tetany

Question 16

What are the functions of sulfur?

Answer 16

Amino acid synthesis, vitamin synthesis, coenzyme formation, structural support, antioxidant and immune system support

Question 17

What is sodium?

Answer 17

An alkaline salt

Question 18

What are the functions of sodium?

Answer 18

Nerve impulse transmission, muscle formation, nutrient absorption, pH regulation, blood volume and pressure

Question 19

What are the functions of potassium?

Answer 19

Fluid and electrolyte balance, nutrient absorption, muscle function

Question 20

What is dietary cation/anion difference?

Answer 20

The measure of difference between cations (Na + K) and anions (Cl + S) in the diet

Question 21

What are the trace minerals?

Answer 21

Zinc, manganese, iodine, cobalt, iron, molybdenum, copper, selenium

Question 22

What are the functions of zinc?

Answer 22

Immune function, wound healing

Question 23

What are the functions of manganese?

Answer 23

Bone formation, metabolism

Question 24

What are the functions of iodine?

Answer 24

Thyroid hormone production

Question 25

What are the functions of cobalt?

Answer 25

B12 synthesis, red blood cell production

Question 26

What are the functions of iron?

Answer 26

Red blood cell production, oxygen transport

Question 27

What are the functions of molybdenum?

Answer 27

Coenzyme and nitrogen metabolism

Question 28

What are the functions of copper?

Answer 28

Red blood cell production, bone development, wool, skin, and hair pigmentation

Question 29

What can a deficiency in copper cause?

Answer 29

Build up of hepatocytes, poor excretion, decreased wool quality, swayback

Question 30

What are the functions of selenium?

Answer 30

Thyroid metabolism, immune function, muscle formation

Question 31

What does a deficiency in selenium cause?

Answer 31

White muscle disease