Minerals and vitamins

Question 1

What are the sources of vitamins and minerals in the diet?

Answer 1

Minerals come from inorganic (‘ash’) fraction
Vitamins are organic

Question 2

what vitamins are essential in ruminant diet?

Answer 2

A
D
E
(K and B are required by are synthesised by rumen)

Question 3

What is pica?

Answer 3

behavioural disorder where the animal eats non-food items

Question 4

What are macro and micro/trace elements?

Answer 4

Micro/trace elements:
- essential nutrients required in small amounts
Macro elements:
- essential nutrients required in large amounts

Question 5

What are the essential microminerals?

Answer 5

Iron
Copper
Zinc
Manganese
Selenium
Cobalt
Iodine

Question 6

What are the essential macrominerals?

Answer 6

calcium
phosphorous
magnesium
potassium
sodium and chloride
Sulphur

Question 7

why are ruminants more likely to suffer mineral probelms?

Answer 7

rumen is not optimised for digesting minerals

Question 8

What is the effects of high calcium on other macrominerals?

Answer 8

Increased uptake of molydenum
Lowered manganese, zinc, copper and cobalt
Reduced magnesium absorption

Question 9

What is the impact of phosphorous in excess of calcium?

Answer 9

inhibits absorption of calcium
ideal Ca:P = 2:1

Question 10

What is the impact of high dietary potassium on other macrominerals?

Answer 10

inhibits magnesium absorption

Question 11

What is the interaction between high dietary cations (esp. K and Na) on other macrominerals

Answer 11

inhibits calcium mobilisation

Question 12

What is the interaction between high dietary sulphur and other macrominerals?

Answer 12

inhibits absorption of selenium

Question 13

What is the micromineral interaction between iron and manganese?

Answer 13

Iron reduced manganese availability

Question 14

What is the effect of selenium deficiency on other microminerals?

Answer 14

=> iodine deficiency

Question 15

Describe copper interactions in the ruminant

Answer 15

Sulphur and molydenum form thiomolybdate => attract copper, making it unavailable (secondary deficiency/ ‘lock up’)

Question 16

Which vitamins are water soluble and fat soluble?

Answer 16

Water soluble:
C, B
Fat soluble:
A, D, E, K

Question 17

Describe the effect of sulphur toxicity and vitamin B1 deficiency in ruminants

Answer 17

Elevated rumen sulphide conc (from diet) destroys microbial B1 (thiamine)
Functional B1 production halted by increased thiaminase-producing bacteria
B1 deficiency disrupts enzymes in energy metabolism pathways
Damages superficial brain tissue due to altered glucose metabolism
=> blindness, mal-coordination, lethargy, seizures

Question 18

Describe vitamin B12 synthesis

Answer 18

Rumen microbes synthesise B12 from dietary cobalt
B12 absorbed in intestine, transferred, to blood, stored in liver and muscles or secreted in milk

Question 19

Describe the mineral audit

Answer 19

Question 20

What do the samples collected from the animal in a mineral audit indicate?

Answer 20

Concentrations in blood used to detect deficiencies
Enzyme functions used for microminerals at marginal or normal concs
Liver concentrations show accumulation and depletion
Urine can show dietary supply or excess

Question 21

What is the role of calcium and the signs of a calcium deficiency?

Answer 21

skeletal formation, milk production, nerve function

Tremors close to birthing
Depressed and abnormal growth in young stock
Weak bones
Spontaneous fractures

Question 22

What is the function of phosphorous and signs of its deficiency?

Answer 22

Skeletal formation, energy utilisation and metabolism

Reduced growth, decreased appetite, reduced milk production, fragile bones (osteomalacia)

Question 23

what is Mg used for and what are the signs of its deficiency?

Answer 23

muscle control, nerve function, enzymatic function

anorexia, decreased feed intake, un-coordinated movement, muscle twitching

Question 24

What is the function of Fe and the signs of its toxicity

Answer 24

Blood cell formation and enzyme activity

inhibits copper absorption, bacterial infection, diarrhoea, reduced feed intake, weight gain

Question 25

What is the function of Cu and the signs of its deficiency

Answer 25

Enzyme systems, respiration, fertility anaemia, fragile bones, infertility, delayed oestrus, reduced immune function, neonatal ataxia, hair and pigmentation loss, ill-thrift

Question 26

What are the signs of copper toxicity

Answer 26

haemolytic crisis (jaundice, haematuria)

Question 27

What are the functions of Co and the signs of its deficiency

Answer 27

Vit B12 production B12 deficiency, poor immune function, pale skin and mucosa, ill-thrift

Question 28

What are the function of selenium and the signs of its deficiency

Answer 28

Antioxidant White muscle disease (wasting), poor repro performance, ill thrift, stiff gait, weak calves

Question 29

What is the function of iodine and the signs of its deficiency

Answer 29

metabolism Goiter, reduced fertility, hairless calves

Question 30

What are the signs of lead toxicity?

Answer 30

anorexia, rumen stasis, colic, constipation followed by diarrhoea If severe poisoning: neurological signs, blindness, head pressing, loss of co-ordination

Question 31

what is the role of vitamin A and the signs of its deficiency

Answer 31

vision, bone growth, immunity, maintenance of epithelial tissue night blindness, poor growth, poor coats, suppressed immunity, retained placenta, impaired fertility

Question 32

What is the function of Vit d and the signs of its deficiency?

Answer 32

Ca and P metabolism, immune function soft, porous, poorly developed bones (rickets) inappetence, decreased growth, stiff gait, stillborn and deformed calves

Question 33

What is the function of vitamin E and the signs of its deficiency

Answer 33

antioxidant, immune function and development, muscle growth Poor immune status, muscular myopathy, white muscle disease

Question 34

what is the function of vit K and what are the signs of its deficiency

Answer 34

blood clotting factors poor blood clotting, internal bleeding, haemotoma

Question 35

What are the risk factors of vit k deficiency?

Answer 35

mouldy silage

Question 36

what are the risk factors of vit E deficiency

Answer 36

youngstock drought lack of green pasture

Question 37

what are the risk factors of vit D deficiency

Answer 37

youngstock year round housing heavy coted, thick wooled and dark pigmented animals

Question 38

what are the risk factors of vit A deficiencyt

Answer 38

youngstock pasture in drought lack of green pasture at parturition breed stress

Question 39

what are the risk factors of lead toxicity

Answer 39

contact with lead-containing objects or ingestion of lead contaminated soil

Question 40

what are the risk factors of iodine deficiency

Answer 40

low iodine during gestation goitrogens in feed high rainfall

Question 41

what are the risk factors of selenium deficiency

Answer 41

youngstock high rainfall lush pasture phosphate fertiliser clover-based sward

Question 42

what are the risk factors of cobalt deficiency

Answer 42

youngstock lush grazing dry weather

Question 43

what are the risk factors of copper toxicity

Answer 43

stressors illness common in sheep

Question 44

what are the risk factors of copper deficiency

Answer 44

low pasture Cu high levels of antagonists in diet

Question 45

what are the risk factors of iron toxicity

Answer 45

high Fe pastures soil contamination of silages

Question 46

what are the risk factors of Mg deficiency

Answer 46

high K or N (fertiliseed pasture) Spring grass Cold snaps stress

Question 47

what are the risk factors of phosphorous deficiency

Answer 47

older mothers mature pastures AI contamination low soil phosphorous

Question 48

what are the risk factors of Ca deficiency

Answer 48

older mothers reduced dry matter intake low Mg, high P, low Ca feeds