Over the last three decades, aquaculture has become the world’s fastest-growing food sector. During this time, farmers have faced a number of unique challenges but have adopted new technologies to address them. One issue, however, remains a key concern and a continually developing threat: disease. There have been significant advances in vaccination practices over the years, but the diversity of pathogens — bacterial, viral and parasitic — sometimes makes vaccination impractical or unavailable to protect against certain threats.

Building a defense

Pathogens are opportunistic and exist naturally in all environments, including animal populations. When conditions become suboptimal and/or stressful, the natural defenses of the animal are challenged and pathogens are given the chance to flourish, which often leads to disease, poor performance and mortality. Disease does not occur in isolation; rather, it is the result of multiple factors. Diet is just as important for the nutrition and welfare of aquaculture species as it is for humans. The Mediterranean diet, for instance, is recommended to help prevent disease in humans because it includes a rich variety of essential nutrients, such as omega-3 lipids, minerals, vitamins and proteins. These nutrients have also proven to be essential for supporting the health and welfare of livestock and often help producers achieve operational success. As such, Alltech has begun exploring what benefits these nutrients could provide in its advanced nutritional aquaculture solutions.

Minerals presented in their natural, organic form help ensure optimal tissue reserves. When encountering a stressful situation, animals draw on these reserves to prevent cellular damage. The maintenance of a healthy gut helps ensure optimal nutrient uptake, leading to improved growth and performance. A healthy gut and mucosal barrier can also keep pathogens from passing through the damaged areas of the gut and into the bloodstream, thus improving the animal’s natural immune defenses.

Feed selection and management

As feed costs can account for more than 50 percent of farm production costs, the correct choice of feed should not be underestimated, nor should it be limited to the application of modern nutritional engineering. Feeds must also be tailored to each species and/or hybrid and should be appropriate for the specific culture methodology and environment; when feeds do not meet these standards, they are often not the most cost-effective selection for the farmer.

When selecting feed, fish farmers should pay attention to three key characteristics: structure, size and stability. Visually, the structure of the pellet should be firm and robust. A strong pellet must withstand the manufacturing and transportation process, minimizing the amount of dust produced. Dust is extremely harmful to fish, as it can damage their gills and affect the water quality. The size, ratio and sink/float speed of the feed must also be suitable for different species and environments; for example, fish in RAS facilities and fish in ponds will have very different requirements.

Pellets must also have a high water stability, as uneaten feed can contaminate the water and leach nutrients. Following best practices, uneaten pellets must be removed promptly in order to avoid sub-optimal feeding practices, negative environmental impacts and an increased feed conversion rate.   

The mechanical filter in an RAS facility will remove large and firm feces. However, providing a feed that is not suitable for this environment can result in the production of excess waste, reduced nutrient uptake and poor water quality.

Profitability relies on optimized feed conversion ratios. Fish are sensitive to external factors; fluctuating water temperatures, water quality and oxygen levels can impact growth and performance.

Tailored nutritional solutions

Alltech Coppens, a leading developer and producer of fish feeds, performs digestibility trials on feed formulations to understand how raw materials interact with each other and affect certain characteristics. Once the ideal ingredient selection is chosen and combined with Alltech’s nutritional solutions, a diet is formulated and developed specifically for that species and its farming environment.

Alltech’s aquaculture solutions platform has been proven to help maintain a protective balance between the aquaculture species, nutrition and environment. In addition, Alltech’s Mineral, Gut Health and Mycotoxin Management programs provide holistic management practices for addressing the key challenges outlined above. For more information about implementing these programs in your operation, please reach out to us at aquasolutions@alltech.com.

I want to learn more about aquaculture nutrition and management.

Vitamins are essential micronutrients required in all poultry diets, with each vitamin playing a critical role in the bird’s overall health and performance. As such, it is important to manage low-inclusion premixes to conserve vitamin stability and maintain efficacy.

Vitamin class and quality

All vitamins are crucial for normal biological function. Vitamins fall into two classes: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (including vitamins A, D, E and K) are absorbed and stored in fatty tissues of the body. These fat-soluble vitamins are critical for vision, mucous tissue integrity, immunity and blood coagulation, as well as calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Alternatively, water-soluble vitamins (including vitamins C, B-complex and choline) are not stored within the body. Water-soluble vitamins metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and they also contribute to the integrity of skin and ligaments, bone calcification and hormone synthesis.

Several physical and chemical factors — including exposure to oxygen, pressure, friction, temperature, humidity, light, pH and redox reactions — can decrease vitamin stability, which will negatively affect bird performance. Pelleting, for example, involves friction, pressure, heat and humidity, which can expose vitamins to adverse chemical environments and compromise the vitamin’s stability. Choline chloride is particularly harsh for vitamins because of its hygroscopic and alkaline properties, so separate choline chloride from vitamin premixes whenever possible.

Maintaining an awareness of the storage conditions and of the overall product composition is important. The ideal conditions will be different for each vitamin. For example, vitamins B1 and B6 are more stable in acidic environments, whereas pantothenic and folic acids are more stable in alkaline environments. Vitamin B12 is sensitive to several environmental factors, including strong acids, alkali conditions and light. Providing vitamin premixes with ideal conditions but storing them alongside trace minerals can also compromise their stability. Copper, zinc and iron are the most reactive toward vitamins, while manganese and selenium tend to be the least reactive trace minerals. The form of the trace mineral can also influence its reactivity toward vitamins; sulfates and carbonates are the most reactive, while oxides and chelated trace mineral forms are the least reactive. Therefore, formulating vitamin premixes in combination with chelated trace minerals will aid in prolonging vitamin stability.

Proper management techniques are critical for maintaining vitamin potency and stability. If possible, store trace minerals and vitamins separately in the initial manufacturing facilities. When combining vitamins and trace minerals in premixes, consider utilizing chelated trace minerals. Additionally, reduce the overall storage time of premixes as well as complete feed. Ensure the use of proper storage containers that minimize light and oxygen penetration. Climate-controlled storage will also reduce the risk of exposing vitamins to high environmental temperatures and humidity. Implementing these management strategies can help to ensure that we are feeding optimal-quality vitamins, which will only serve to enhance overall bird health and performance.

I'm interested in learning more about poultry nutrition.

Ulcers — particularly those of the gastric variety — are one of the most hotly discussed and debated subjects among horse owners today. Performance problems? Must be ulcers. Attitude issues? Probably ulcers. Poor appetite? Have you checked for ulcers? You get the idea.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a frustrating and potentially costly issue — gastroscopy (an endoscopic examination of a horse’s stomach) and treatment with omeprazole can cost upwards of $1,500. And the craziest thing of all? Ulcers are an entirely man-made problem; we have interrupted the horse’s natural environment and feeding/grazing regimen out of our own need for routine and convenience. Each of the following causes can lead you straight into Ulcerville, a place we would all much prefer to avoid:

• Stall confinement
• Prescribed meal times
• High-grain diets
• Increased training demands
• Competition
• Environmental changes, including travel, moving to a new barn or a change in herd dynamics

Treating the unknown

Gastric ulcers are extremely common in performance horses — it is estimated that as many as 90 percent of racehorses and 70 percent of show horses have them. This problem, however, is not as black and white as it may seem. While some might think that the solution is as simple as skipping the expensive endoscopy and diving into treatment, just wait until the cost of medicine rears its ugly head; those tubes of omeprazole aren’t cheap, especially when you need 28 days’ worth. As someone who was most certainly not born with a silver spoon in her mouth, I can totally relate. You may have heard that powdered omeprazole is much cheaper, or that OTC rantidine (think Zantac^®) can solve your horse’s problems for less, but the old adage that “you get what you pay for” is particularly fitting in this situation.

Let’s look at this from another angle: would you take medicine — a really expensive type — for something you weren’t even sure you actually had? Sounds insane, right? If you think your horse has gastric ulcers, call your vet to schedule a gastroscopy; it’s the only way to make a definitive diagnosis.

Prevention over cure

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was actually talking about fire safety when he said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? Still, his wisdom applies. Making a few relatively simple adjustments to your horse’s lifestyle and feeding schedule can greatly reduce its risk of ulcer development.

1. Feed forage wisely.

Horses are very large animals, but their stomachs only have a 2- to 4-gallon capacity. This may sound surprisingly small in relation to their size, but horses are built to spend two-thirds of their time grazing, as this allows them to digest a small but steady amount of forage throughout the day. Large amounts of saliva are produced during grazing, and when this saliva is combined with roughage, it can buffer the acid levels in the stomach. Even when a horse isn’t eating, its stomach is producing acid, and this is why prescribed meal times (e.g., feeding only twice per day) can be problematic: the longer a horse goes between forage consumption, the more acid accumulates. Feeding free-choice hay or allowing for extended turnout keeps a steady supply of buffering saliva available to neutralize stomach acid. Offering hay in a slow feeder can also help meals last longer. Alternatively, you may mimic grazing by breaking down daily rations into smaller, more frequent meals. Alfalfa often gets a bad rap, but it is actually thought to have a better buffering effect on stomach acids than grass hay. Alfalfa is far more nutrient-dense than grass hay, though, so it will need to be introduced to the diet gradually to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal upset.

2. Limit grain.

Horses produce less saliva when they consume grain, limiting the buffering effect that otherwise takes place when they consume forages. Grain and other concentrates increase blood glucose, which, in turn, increases insulin levels and volatile fatty acid production and could potentially damage the stomach lining. If your horse needs more calories outside of forage, look for a feed that has a lower starch and sugar content and is higher in fat and fiber. You will often see these diets referred to as low-NSC (non-structural carbohydrate). While non-structural carbohydrates are an important source of energy for performance horses who don’t have metabolic issues, they must be provided in the appropriate balance to avoid negative impacts and support optimal performance.

3. Remember: we are dealing with creatures of habit.

Humans aren’t the only ones who like routines. Anything out of the ordinary that adds stress to your horse’s life can contribute to the development of ulcers. This doesn’t just apply to show horses; even changing up the turnout group at home or feeding an hour later than usual can throw your horse into inner turmoil. Do your best to introduce change gradually and maintain as many familiar habits as possible. If introducing stress is unavoidable, take precautionary measures like feeding a well-researched gastric support product and/or strategically administering omeprazole.

4. Provide more turnout time.

As previously mentioned, horses are designed to be eating — and moving — almost constantly. As also noted, our interruption of this habit has led to the problems addressed in this article. Horses are among the most frustratingly fragile creatures on the planet, but don’t let a fear of pasture injury keep you from letting your horse be a horse. Provide ample turnout time — 24/7 is ideal, but this might not be realistic for many horses, so aim for as many hours per day as is reasonably possible. It’s also important to turn your horse out into a group, if you can. We need to remember that horses are very social creatures, who generally find solace in the company of other equines.

5. Be careful with medication.

When used long-term or in high amounts, some medications — particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Bute (phenylbutazone) or Banamine — can damage the lining of the stomach, thereby increasing ulcer risk. Always check with your vet if you have any questions about the recommended use and dosage rate for these types of medication.

Ulcers may seem mysterious — and, in a lot of ways, they are. If we observe ulcer symptoms, we must ultimately trust our instincts, since there is no way to know exactly how much pain they cause our horses. Fortunately, as with many things, advances in equine medicine and management will only continue to develop our understanding of what we can do to both treat and prevent this common but distressing ailment.

I want to learn more about equine nutrition and management recommendations.

Traditionally, meat has been considered a commodity — that is, a mass-produced good with a low level of differentiation. One of the most important characteristics of commodities is the high volatility of their price because, by their nature, they are very sensitive to changes in production and demand. In the search for better prices for meat, some brands are trying to differentiate and add value to their products.

Globally, consumers are increasingly more aware that better nutrition represents one of the main pillars of good health — which has led to a trend of new lifestyle choices in recent years. This new way of understanding what we choose for our tables brings with it greater expectations regarding the food supply.

Therefore, the challenge for producers — and the food industry in general — is to have tools on hand to help them cope with and anticipate the new eating habits of consumers seeking a better quality of life.

Inspired by this new global trend, the Wong supermarket chain in Peru — owned by the multinational business consortium Cencosud — saw the opportunity to serve a segment of the Peruvian market that seeks a healthy, balanced and natural diet. In addition, they understood that it was necessary to find and become allies with a national producer who raised top-quality cattle that would meet the needs of this new market.

The Finca Nueva Farm, located south of Lima, is a family business, established almost half a century ago. Since its founding, its vision has been to produce high-quality cattle to satisfy a demanding market. For Ricardo Heredia, son of the founder of the business, being passionate about livestock is essential in order to innovate and grow. Heredia knows that animal welfare is key, since it is reflected in the quality of the meat. Therefore, he does not neglect the important aspects of livestock care, such as offering comfort to animals — by providing good feeders, drinking troughs with clean and fresh water and adequate shade areas for the animals' rest, as well as a well-balanced diet.

Heredia is aware that consumers are passionate about nutrition, sustainability and traceability, so he continually seeks to adapt and develop new products, while meeting the international certification standards. When he and his farm decided to focus on producing premium-quality meat, to achieve certification of good livestock practices, they looked for hormone-free solutions that would leave no residues of antibiotics in the meat, and they were also interested in implementing a good traceability system.

The Wong supermarkets and the Finca Nueva Farm were also interested in feeding an organic form of selenium. Including selenium in an animal’s diet can be beneficial in that it contributes to:

• Maintenance of animal health by supporting the animal’s natural defenses
• Superior meat quality, with differentiated parameters such as better color, texture and juiciness
• Perhaps most importantly, the meat on carcasses supplemented with organic selenium will contain that antioxidant. Thus, the consumer who buys, cooks and consumes this meat will benefit not only from the nutrients of the meat, but also from the benefits of selenium.

Functional food

In the field of nutrition, functional foods are those foods or food products that, in addition to their inherent nutritive substances (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins or minerals), also contain a specific substance added for health benefits. Thus, a processed food such as milk will become functional if it is enriched with some type of additional vitamin, such as Complex B. Besides having its traditional characteristics of proteins, calcium and more, the milk now also has the added benefits that come from Complex B, making it a functional food.

Selenium is an essential nutrient for both animals and humans as it plays an important role in metabolism, supports growth, helps improve reproductive functions, improves the body's defense mechanism against infections and neutralizes free radicals, given its antioxidant function.

Alliance in favor of the consumer Alltech Sel-Plex® is the only organic selenium in the form of selenium yeast that has been reviewed by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Wong, in alliance with the Finca Nueva Farm, decided to feed Sel-Plex® to their Fleckvieh cattle, a breed of European origin. Subsequently, they carried out tests in the slaughterhouse, where they made the cuts and packed the meat vacuum. These cuts, which matured for more than 10 days, showed results that helped differentiate this meat from the other meats on the supermarket shelf, thus allowing for decommoditization.

I would like to receive more information on beef nutrition.

It’s completely natural to assign human traits and emotions to our animals. After all, anthropomorphism is considered an innate tendency of human psychology. But what happens when this desire to humanize our four-legged friends goes too far? Take laminitis, for instance: a common cause of this highly painful, debilitating and potentially life-threatening disease is overfeeding — so could we actually be killing our horses with kindness?

Laminitis: What is it?

The literal definition of laminitis is inflammation of the laminae — the non-sensitive, outer epidermal tissue, as well as the sensitive, inner dermal tissue between the hoof wall and coffin bone — on a horse’s foot. These tissues mesh together to hold the hoof wall to the coffin bone (also known as the pedal bone). If the blood flow to these tissues is interrupted, inflammation can set in and weaken the laminae structures, thereby interfering with the connection between the hoof wall and coffin bone. This condition can affect just one foot or all four, but it most commonly affects the front feet at the same time and does not discriminate — it can impact any horse or pony.

Unless the cause of the inflammation is removed and treatment begins immediately at the first signs of laminitis, the dermal laminae will begin to die. Since they are responsible for significant support in the hoof, which bears the horse’s weight, the coffin bone may begin to sink and rotate due to the inability of the damaged laminae to support both the bone and the pull of the digital flexor tendon. The bone may even sink far enough to protrude from the sole of the foot. This is often irreversible but can occasionally be cured with a great deal of time and patience, along with a significant financial investment.

What causes it?

Several factors can play a role, but animals who are overweight or have previously suffered from laminitis are especially at risk. Common causes include:

• An excess intake of carbohydrates, either from overfeeding of grain, grain overload from a horse or pony getting into a feed room, or unrestricted access to lush pasture grasses
• The stress of a change in environment, frequent travel or foaling in broodmares
• Septicemic conditions, severe infections or retained placenta in mares post-foaling
• Obesity, particularly in ponies
• Lameness, which prevents the bearing of weight in one leg, leading to overloading of another limb
• Concussion to the hoof from working unshod on hard ground or from an overzealous hoof trim
• Metabolic disorders, such as Cushing’s disease

What are the signs?

The symptoms of acute laminitis are typically sudden and severe and include:

• Inability or reluctance to walk
• Lying down, combined with an unwillingness to stand
• Readily apparent lameness, especially when moving in a circle or walking on a hard surface
• Increased digital pulse
• Leaning back onto hind feet in an attempt to relieve the pressure on front feet
• Pain at the point of the frog and walking heel-first instead of toe-first

Chronic laminitis, also known as founder, can instead come on gradually and is often the result of either a sustained diet rich in carbohydrates or a metabolic disorder. It can also manifest in horses whose feet are severely compromised as the result of a previous, non-fatal, acute episode. Horses afflicted with chronic laminitis will typically exhibit the following symptoms:

• Lameness that ranges from mild to moderate
• A willingness to stand and walk, despite obvious foot pain
• Irregular bands of growth in the hoof wall
• Heels that grow faster than toes
• White line widening
• A noticeable crest running along the neckline
• Changed foot shape, often becoming narrow and elongated

Treatment

If you witness any of the above symptoms in your horse, contact both your veterinarian and farrier immediately. You will need to develop and administer a treatment plan as quickly as possible to prevent any lasting damage and to relieve any associated pain. When not treated quickly or correctly, permanent damage from laminitis can result in euthanasia.

• Horses who have been overfed must immediately be separated from their feed source; consult with your vet on a revised feeding regimen
• Move the horse or pony to a small pen or stall and bed deeply with shavings so they can dig their hooves into a comfortable position
• Avoid exercise, as it may initially contribute to further rotation of the coffin bone
• Have your farrier consult with your vet and trim the hoof according to the degree of rotation of the coffin bone
• Provide the horse with a companion to help minimize stress

Prevention

• Monitor your horse’s diet and weight very carefully
• Feed small amounts frequently to mimic a horse’s natural feeding patterns
• Restrict grass intake and avoid turning out on lush grasses, particularly in early spring or after heavy rains
• Maintain a consistent exercise regimen to aid in weight management
• Regularly schedule visits with a reputable farrier
• Support hoof strength and growth by offering high-quality nutrition and premium equine supplements, such as Lifeforce Hoof

This disease is very painful and incapacitating for horses. Remember that prevention is always better than a cure. As Albert Einstein said, “A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.”

I want to learn more about equine health and management recommendations.

The following is an edited transcript of Nicole Erwin's interview with Dr. Amy Coleman. Click below to hear the full audio: 

Nicole:           I'm talking with Dr. Amy Coleman, CEO and founder of Wellsmart and author of the book, “Discovering Your Own Doctor Within”. Dr. Coleman, thank you so much for joining us.

Amy:               Thank you, Nicole. It's great to be here.

Nicole:           You have such an interesting background, from serving as the first female commander of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Clinic, to being selected as the primary physician for four-star generals, U.S. Embassies, Special Forces teams and even for NASA for space shuttle support. From being a fighter pilot and going with an instinct — what you call "flying with the feel" — to gut decisions in our everyday lives, your ethos seems to be all about listening to yourself and how the gut could be or should be the loudest voice. Can you tell me about the first time that your gut “spoke” to you and you listened?

Amy:               Oh, that is a great question, Nicole. I believe that's something that we inherit and grow into, actually. As children, we can be given examples of how to do this or how not to do that, and hopefully there's a path that allows us to find our way. I believe the biggest gut instinct came to me during 9/11. At that time, I was an intern after medical school, finishing up my internship year. My granddad, who was a sergeant major in the Marines, had always said, "Go into the Air Force. They'll pave your way to school." It was a great idea. He said, "They've got great technology, they treat women well, and wherever you go, you fly in style."

                        So, I said, "Why not?" When I went into medical school, they picked up the tab.

                        I had the opportunity to go through my residency before I started becoming an active duty doctor for the military. But when 9/11 happened, right after I had finished medical school and my internship year, I decided to defer my residency and just go immediately in to active duty. That actually allowed me a great benefit and opportunity to be a flight surgeon, which was really a good instinct, to go into that direction. It's made all the difference because, as a physician, I was able to really meet my patients where they are — boots on the ground, in their facilities, in their squadrons and where they work — and see their environment and really experience what they were experiencing. For the first time, I really learned teamwork in a way that never is taught in medical school. Even seeing doctors working together — that's not something that happens a lot of times.

                        So, in the military, I've really learned teamwork and how to see my patient as equal to myself and just as important as making the decisions in their own health as I was. So, yeah, listening to my gut in that made all the difference in how my style as a physician developed.

Nicole:           And your path.

Amy:               Yeah, exactly.

Nicole:           Admittedly, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. I listen, probably, to too many things affecting me, both mentally and physically. How do you drown out the unnecessary bits of information and focus on what's really going on inside?

Amy:               Well, that's a super question, Nicole. A lot of people come to me and ask that. They have trouble sleeping because of that. They might start the day with one thought that's concerning to them, and by the end of the day, they have a snowball of thoughts just like it that just gather. We really have to kind of decide what track we want to take. The “monkey mind,” as I call it, makes us want to just turn over furniture and just be destructive, like a monkey in a room — just losing control. Those types of thoughts actually drive you to a way of being, which is a survival mode. That survival mode is driven by neurotransmitters that are really meant to tell you to run from a bear or dinosaur or whatever is threatening you; to live in that state is, really, chaos. So, if we choose to listen to those thoughts that just continuously multiply in our head, it drives us to those fight-or-flight states, which are exhausting to the mind and the body.

                        One of the things that I do is get out into nature. I find that nature resets you. “He,” “she” or whatever you want to call [nature] is an energy in and of itself that just kind of has a way of letting time stand still around you as you’re finding your focus in something that's beautiful and creating a sense of awe for yourself. When you do that, you are increasing the quality of your thoughts, just like the quality of food you eat or the quality of air you breathe is going to make you feel much better. Once you get in those states of awe and thankfulness and inspiration that nature can provide, then, oftentimes, you find yourself settling down in the thoughts that come with those types of inspired, “awe” moments. It's just a cut above all the rest. I prefer to live there. Actually, one of the disciplines of my journey through this life is really to just make that a discipline — to completely create those types of moments wherever I am. I call it my “walking meditation.”

Nicole:           I have heard you refer to a phenomenon called the “nocebo” effect. Can you explain what that is?

Amy:               Right. We are all familiar with the placebo effect, and that's when you're taking something that could just be a sugar pill, but you're feeling the effects of it as if it's something that's quite potent. That actually wraps around the understanding of the power of your beliefs. A lot of times, people and physicians alike consider the placebo effect something that is to be ignored, or it’s talked about around the water cooler as just an interesting effect, but it's much, much more than that. A person's belief system really runs their life, and a belief system actually fuels you to either become more relaxed in your day-to-day walk of your life or feel more threatened. So, you really do have to meet people where they are in their belief set. If someone is taking a pill they don't believe in or that they feel is going to cause them a bad effect, you really have to look at that constructed thought that's been created. A thought is a thing, and that mental construct can build within a person a resistance — resistance against taking what you're offering them. If you're building resistance in a person, it's like arm-wrestling them on an energetic level or a mental level. With that, every time they take the pill, they've got an increased risk of having the side effect side of those medicines, which aren't the helpful side effects but the ones that cause some kind of suffering. So, nocebo effect is when someone takes a pill and feels the opposite of it being helpful — they feel all of the negative side effects. A lot of times, that comes with an internal dialogue. They have a belief set that wasn't met by their physician and they felt like they were kind of pushed or something was pushed on them.

Nicole:           Communicating with co-workers, family and loved ones can be challenging. How does someone communicate effectively with their physician if they don't feel like they want to do what they're saying?

Amy:               Oh, that's such a great question, too. What I would say is, you always have to find the provider that matches your belief set in ways that allow you to be a team — a team working as a group, together. There are physicians out there who are looking to do that with patients, and a lot of times, it's [because] they’re more integrative, holistic, functional medicine-type physicians.

                        Unfortunately, the very structured nature of our clinic system in the current healthcare model doesn't allow physicians a lot of time with their patients to be able to sit and have these types of conversations in a meaningful way. So, your better option is to find a physician [who aligns with you] — even if you might have to find one that you either pay out-of-pocket or pay with a different kind of payment service.

                        There are lots of ideas out there and new technologies that are allowing physicians to charge on a monthly basis. Those are called direct primary care clinics. But they are out there. Physicians are out there, and patients really need to know that they have a choice. It’s like anything else; you have to look for the service model that you want to represent you. That includes your hairdresser. That includes your accountant. Sometimes, you have to go through a few of them before you find the right fit.

Nicole:           And just to back up a little bit, going back into the gut, how did you get interested in the microbiome field?

Amy:               When I was a child, I was very sick, and I had to take a lot of antibiotics from the time I was probably six months old to the time I was about four to five years old. I can't even remember a time when I really wasn't taking antibiotics. What happened to me, after being on so many medications early in my life, was I did find myself very weak. My doctor told my mom that I wasn't going to be physical, I wasn't going to be very active, not to expect a lot from me. Of course, there goes the challenge that's laid down. In that, I had to start redefining what made me feel good.

                        So, I started cooking for myself when I was 13, because I was really on an American diet; my mom was a working mother, so Hamburger Helper and Fruit Loops were her go-to so she could quickly feed me and get to work. In that day and age, things were supposedly fortified with vitamins — commercials would say how nutritious they were. We know better now. When we know better, we do better.

                        At 13 or 14 years old, I started eating foods that really made me feel good. I was steaming rice and vegetables and grilling lean meats and things like that. I found that I just felt so much better. Little did I know that I was changing my microbiome, which was supporting my immune system. Back then, we didn't even know the microbiome existed. The only thing we knew back then was that it helps you digest food and you have some bacteria down there. Now we know it's so much more important. So, I was really, I guess, following my gut even back then.

Nicole:           How did your mom respond to you cooking? Did you cook for her, too?

Amy:               Oh, yeah. I tried to cook for everybody, but unfortunately, the culture of eating is very much a social event that often is based on how you're raised. Sometimes, if you don't change your diet, I suppose, early enough in life, you pretty much get stuck in those ways.

                        It was an intriguing entertainment for them to watch me eat. My dad would always say, "Oh, if I ate what you were eating, I'd be hungry ten minutes later." I would tell them, "You can eat small meals throughout the day." It actually started the progression of me going down a fitness track that truly reformed my body into complete physical health.

Nicole:           How will a better understanding in the gut environment impact the wellness industry?

Amy:               The gut environment is something that we really need to understand. For the first time, we're actually starting to look at what we used to think [of] as an enemy and calling it friend — all the bacteria in the gut. There are so many of them that could harm us, and now we're starting to turn around and say, "Where is this ecosystem within us that we need to repair, just as we see outside of us these ecosystems that we need to repair?" What's happening outside is happening within us as well. I mean, look at the Great Barrier Reef and look at global warming. Well, within us is something similar, with the loss of the ecosystem of our gut.

                        The rebuilding of that, I believe, in the wellness industry is going to be about nourishing and teaching people to be good CEOs of every little cell in their body, and nurturing care is something that we really haven't learned. I think wellness industries are going to be well-served to teach the lesson of how to repair your ecology and how to be one with your ecosystem and how many ways we can relearn nurturing yourself. From that, I hope that we can nurture the environment when we learn how to nurture our self.

Nicole:           How receptive are people when they hear you make those connections? Is being able to test the microbiome significant in being able to show what's happening, and can you do that?

Amy:               This is the most phenomenal news for me — that I can help someone redirect their microbiome just like I did when I was 14 years old. I was doing it blindly, but the system that I use for patients actually guides them through a six-step process, where they test their gut flora every two-and-a-half weeks. With those results, we implement dietary changes and we implement ways of being that actually help your gut to be enriched. I'm able to see those results come back better and better.

                        So, really, you're teaching someone gardening. You're teaching someone how to do interior gardening. The way that we run around in this day and age, we don't have time for gardening, but the fact is that we carry our garden within us wherever we go, and whatever we eat either feeds it [or] denies it. If you're a gardener at heart, you just remember: you're always carrying around your garden within you.

Nicole:           What are some things that we can all do daily to improve the health of our microbiomes and take care of our garden?

Amy:               Oh, my goodness. So many things. The gut biome is enriched by you living the life you know you need to live. That means sleeping well, because the gut bacteria have to sleep, too. When people are pregnant, they say they're eating for two or they're sleeping for two. Well, you're sleeping or eating for 100 trillion. If you were going to look at the numbers, it's a good indicator and motivator as to how to take care of yourself.

                        You also need to eat foods that nourish the gut flora. The bacteria in your gut are doing so many things on a daily basis, from making neurotransmitters that your brain uses to making hormone-like mediators that your endocrine glands and systems use. There is not one part of your body that the gut microbiome does not reach. It is your motherboard. It is another brain, as a matter of fact. It has so many neurons in the area of your gut that it is a thinking system. The problem is, with eating wrong, unfortunately, we're losing a lot of our heritage species of the gut microbiome that we need to survive and to do the daily work.

                        When the microbiome does start to diminish or dwindle, it leads to inflammation issues in the body. We're wondering why we have so many autoimmune diseases now, why we're having so many diseases and chronic issues that never really plagued humanity before. I think a lot of it does reside in the gut.

Nicole:           I was always told that if you eat properly, you should be able to get all the nutrients that your body needs. But a lot of us have so many things going on with stress and work. So, if you can't find the time to get the food that you need, do you recommend supplements, or that's not an option and you need to make time?

Amy:               Well, supplements are an option. Also, staying away from things in the environment. A lot of things like antibiotics will completely clear out all of your good bacteria. It's absolutely proven, and it comes back over time. But just think about a child with chronic ear infections. They're going from one antibiotic to another. Over time, it takes longer and longer to get that gut microbiome back into a healthy level.

                        So, some of the things that you can do are to stay away from things that you know would hurt your gut, and that is, if you have the sniffles, don't go for the Z-Pack. A normal cold lasts five to ten days, and the average person does get a cold three to five times a year. It does start in your nose and usually ends up with a cough that's dry and then becomes productive. We actually need to start realizing that normal viruses and things like that don't need to be treated with antibiotics.

                        If you're looking for a supplement, some of the best things you can buy are the fibers. Fibers are prebiotics that feed bacteria — they've got flora, so it’s like you’re serving a T-bone steak down there. Some of those types of fibers are cold-resistant starches. You can get them online or you can [get] them from pretty much anywhere.

                        Inulin has a very good one. Inulin is a fiber made of the chicory root. It's not very digestible, but yet, the gut microbiome love it and it allows the gut microbiome to metabolize that and actually help the body. But getting fiber from food is always best, to be honest with you.

Nicole:           What would you say is happening in today's culture with understanding the gut and our microbiomes? And how accessible is treatment into some of these things that you just mentioned? Is it just a matter of going online?

Amy:               Well, there's so much information out there, and what I see right now is that “probiotics,” “prebiotics” and “microbiome” are becoming the buzzwords. With that, there are a lot of people who are just trying to make a lot of money. So what we need to realize is that this is a very new science and it is a quantum-level science of interconnections: How do the bacteria react to you? How do the bacteria react to each other? How do bacteria react to the food you eat? All of it is a commensal, huge operation of relationships. This is going to take years to unravel and get the wisdom of what all of those relationships are.

                        To think that we know more than we do right now is probably the biggest fault I see. We do have to realize that a lot of the studies are just in mice right now. So, as we are looking further into people as testing entities for the gut microbiome, then we'll know a lot more. But I would just say, “Buyer beware.” I also would say make sure, if you're going to educate yourself, educate yourself on platforms that are putting out microbiome information on YouTube. TedX has some good ones. Working physicians who are leading the drive are good resources because they are typically seeing patients every day and not necessarily selling you a prebiotic or probiotic to make their living.

Nicole:           Dr. Amy Coleman is CEO and founder of Wellsmart and is author of the book, “Discovering Your Own Doctor Within”. Thank you so much.

Amy:               Thank you so much.

Dr. Amy Coleman was a guest speaker at Health & Wellness breakout sessions during ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE18). Click here to learn more about the next global ideas exchange. 

Over the last decade, the study of how nutrition can impact immune function — known as immuno-nutrition — has been examined as an alternative approach to treating or preventing chronic diseases. Many pet owners consider their pets part of the family. As a result, they are choosing higher quality, more nutritious diets for their pets and asking how the right nutrients can prolong their pet’s well-being.

Oxidation and inflammation are the main culprits that can jeopardize the immune system. Making sure that the nutrients delivered as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories are biologically available and absorbable helps ensure that pets are prepared for the excess stress that comes with the aging process.

In our recent webinar, “Immuno-nutrition: Structure function benefits and well-being for pets,” Dr. Rebecca Delles explored how oxidation and inflammation, when left unchecked, can result in damage to important biomolecules in the body.  

1. Older and/or sick pets may have increased needs for certain biomolecules due to lower GI absorption rates.
2. Many of the most common diseases in pets are caused by inflammation and oxidation of the tissues.
3. Better absorbability of bioactive components can help fortify the immune system and prolong pet well-being.

I want to learn more about pet nutrition.

Although it is a fairly new practice, shrimp farming in Brazil shows great potential in both internal and external markets. Currently, the cultivated area of ​​shrimp nurseries in Brazil is 25,000 hectares, but this could eventually expand by 1 million hectares, according to the Brazilian Shrimp Farmers Association (ABCCAM).

To maintain their high levels of productivity, producers are betting on natural supplementation as an alternative to improving and preserving their animals’ health, as well as to combat factors like toxicity and adsorption of harmful pathogenic bacteria. Other essential aspects that can affect animal comfort and productivity and that shrimp farmers should consider include water quality control, transparency, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen compounds, alkalinity, hardness and more.

“Despite its great potential, the shrimp farming sector in Brazil still struggles with some challenges that hinder its growth,” said Fabio Rodrigues, aquaculture sales coordinator for Alltech Brazil. “Among some of the main obstacles we can name are problems like white spot syndrome.”

According to Rodrigues, this disease drastically reduces production and is one reason why, despite its great potential, the Brazilian shrimp industry is currently only capable of serving its domestic market. The virus that causes this disease can destroy organ cells in the shrimp digestive and respiratory systems.

In this scenario, the use of select additives can optimize the shrimp’s reproductive cycle, allowing for better productivity.

“These solutions can provide better immunity and anti-inflammatory effects and a better shell quality,” said Rodrigues. “Other solutions for shrimp farms include utilizing enriched products based on fermented meal for fertilization, supplementation or as a complement to the diet.”

The solution

Alltech offers solutions for the feed industry and for shrimp producers that optimize the nutrition of crustaceans and help achieve a more efficient production. One example is Aquate, which supports shrimp development and reflects a more attractive cost-benefit to the producer. 

I want to learn more about aquaculture solutions.

1. Bedding

Winter temperatures bring additional challenges and considerations to the table for dairy producers. As temperatures drop, calves’ energy requirements increase. Calves under 21 days of age require more energy when temperatures fall below 60° Fahrenheit and also require 30 percent more energy simply for maintenance when temperatures fall below 30° F.

Bedding is a good source of insulation; as such, to reduce heat loss, keep calves dry and well-bedded. Dry straw bedding up to their knees provides good insulation and reduces their chance of contracting respiratory disease. In addition, clean, dry calf jackets can increase the internal temperature of a calf by up to 25° F.

2. Feeding

Feeding calves three times a day will help stabilize the rumen pH while simultaneously adding more energy during cold temperatures. Additionally, provide free-choice warm water right after feeding to get the calves drinking water before they lie down. Remember, warm water freezes faster than cold water.

3. Water

Speaking of water, dairy cows must drink water or they will not eat. Since water is a key ingredient in making milk, be sure that the waterers are clean and not frozen. Cows prefer plate cooler water because it is warmer than well water. With a thermometer, check waterers with heaters to determine if elements are working properly. An ideal water temperature is between 40–65° F.

4. Ventilation – Prevent drafts

Dairy cows will do quite well in cold temperatures, provided they are dry and protected from wind and drafts. Cows can tolerate temperatures as low as -20° F if wind speeds are below five miles per hour. On the other hand, high winds of 35 miles per hour and temperatures above 15° F can cause problems for dairy cows.

With cold weather, it is important to prevent drafts; cows need a dry, draft-free resting place. Patch holes in curtains, minimize gaps at the ends of curtains and seal around doors where wind can blow through. In stall barns, proper maintenance of barn wall fans is key to good ventilation. Adjust and replace belts and keep shutters and other parts clean and lubricated. Fresh air inlets must allow air into the barn to replace “old air.” Regardless of the type of barn, it is important to have ample amounts of dry bedding. Keep the back of the stall groomed or scraped. If walkways become frozen and slippery, put down lime to allow for better traction.

5. Prevent frostbite

Another critical area to consider when it comes to mature cows is whether they are exiting the parlor into wind chill conditions that can lead to frostbite and frozen teats. It is very important that teats are dry when leaving the parlor during cold weather. Dairy scientists suggest that, in severely cold weather, even the film of milk should be dried before cows leave the parlor. Instead of skipping the post-dip, it is better to post-dip the teats and allow 30 seconds of contact time before wiping the teats dry. Use germicidal dips that contain 5–12 percent multi-skin conditioners to reduce chapping or cracking of teat skin. Avoid washing teats with water in cold weather.

 6. Mastitis – Dry teats and singe udders

Finally, in cold weather — or during the summer — reducing the places that organic matter can stick to a cow is critical to managing somatic cell count and mastitis. To prevent this from happening, singeing udders just prior to calving, at dry-off and during lactation, when the hair is visibly long, is suggested. Following this standard operating procedure (SOP) reduces the sediment load in the milk filter, makes it easier to prep cows and reduces the risk of environmental mastitis. This procedure can be done in head-locks or in the close-up area — but not in the parlor, if all possible.

I want to learn more about on-farm support for my dairy.

Dietary trace minerals like copper, zinc and manganese are nutrients critical to animal health, performance and welfare. Immunity, reproduction, growth and even meat and milk quality hinge on optimal trace mineral nutrition.

Everything we know about trace mineral nutrition, from inclusion levels to effects on performance, has come from studies using inorganic trace mineral salts. Trace mineral salts are made from a trace mineral loosely bound to a charged ion and have been the basis of trace mineral supplementation and research since the 1930s. Recent studies, however, are using a different form of trace mineral, and the results of those studies are challenging ideas once considered fundamental to livestock nutrition.

In the early 1990s, organic trace minerals were first developed to reflect the way trace minerals naturally occur in plants. These supplements have a protein-like or carbohydrate ring structure that attaches to the trace mineral at multiple sites. The protein or carbohydrate component serves as a protective, stable delivery system, increasing the likelihood of mineral absorption.

The last 20 years of research confirm that the difference between a mineral salt and a trace mineral bound to a stable organic ring are substantial. The evidence points to organics as a superior source of trace minerals, but beyond that, we see unprecedented effects in the animal when they receive optimally formulated minerals. Organic trace minerals are changing the way we look at livestock nutrition overall.

Below are seven major changes to nutritional dogma instigated by studies looking at organic trace minerals. While many nutritionists still cling to the low-priced, traditional inorganics, organic trace minerals are fostering a revolution in animal feeding.   

1. Not all trace mineral forms are created equal

Historically, inorganic trace minerals have been the primary form of mineral supplementation. Their inexpensive synthesis, however, produces a supplement that quickly dissociates and reacts within the feed and digestive tract.

Dr. Richard Murphy is a biochemist and research director in Dunboyne, Ireland, who has focused much of his work on characterizing, comparing and optimizing trace mineral supplements.

"When comparing mineral products — both inorganic and organic — the key differentiation point is to understand their stability through the GI tract," said Murphy. "Stability at the acidic pH found in the gastric environment is critical to ensuring maximal delivery of mineral to sites of mineral absorption in the intestine."

Dr. Murphy's work has repeatedly shown that organic trace minerals are far superior to traditional inorganic trace minerals in both stability and overall bioavailability. They are, in fact, so much more efficient that countless animal trials have shown that organic trace minerals can be fed at significantly lower levels than their inorganic counterpart without disrupting health and performance. 

Surprisingly, Dr. Murphy's research has also found that not all organic trace minerals are created equal.

"Ultimately, the type and position of the amino acids used in organic trace minerals are critical for stability," said Dr. Murphy.

Different brands of organic trace minerals use different amino acid and peptide strands, some with far weaker associations and lower stability than others.

Dr. Murphy and his research associates have developed a peptide-trace mineral configuration for use in organic trace minerals that provides optimal stability. It is, in fact, his work in differentiating organic and inorganic trace minerals that has laid the foundation for the six other breakthroughs in mineral nutrition.

2. Inorganics: Not required

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) publishes livestock requirements for all essential nutrients, among which it lists inorganic trace minerals. New research, however, proves that, while trace minerals are essential, there is no absolute requirement for inorganic trace minerals. In fact, eliminating inorganics altogether and replacing them with organic trace minerals appears to enhance performance. 

In beef cattle, a total replacement of inorganic trace minerals with lower levels (60 percent) of organic trace minerals improved health and performance and generated a $50/head advantage (Holder et al., 2016). Total replacement with organic trace minerals in pigs improved average daily gain, increased slaughter weight by 2 kg and improved slaughter efficiency to generate a savings of $1.80 per pig.

Inorganics may prevent deficiency, but there are far more effective supplement options. Even operations feeding a combination of inorganic and organic trace minerals stand to benefit from converting to 100 percent organic trace minerals. The total replacement of inorganics offers the best results in achieving animal genetic potential.

3. Organic trace mineral bioavailability: using less to do more

Studies routinely feed organic trace minerals at levels 30-50 percent lower than inorganics because the superior delivery system of organics allows them to be more efficiently absorbed. Poultry scientists at the University of Kentucky asked, "Just how much more efficiently?"

In their study, broilers were fed organic trace minerals at levels 75 percent lower than commercial levels for inorganics. These birds reached a desirable market weight in the standard six-week period and showed no signs of deficiency or disease, even though they were fed only one-quarter the mineral ration of their inorganic-fed counterparts (Ao et al., 2009). These relative concentrations are below those traditionally recognized as needed for meeting the birds’ requirements.

Organic trace minerals are more effectively absorbed and deposited in the intended tissues, so small amounts can have a greater impact. The inefficiency of inorganics requires producers to significantly overfeed them. Organic trace minerals offer a way for producers to maximize resources. This research also gives us a clearer picture of what an animal's true trace mineral requirements might be.

4. Organic trace minerals contribute to significant improvements in animal health

Trace minerals have a lock-and-key effect on certain antioxidant enzymes that are critical to immune function. A sufficient supply of trace minerals can be described as the sustaining fuel of the immune system. Recent feeding trials and nutrigenomic studies showcase organic minerals taking on some of agriculture’s most costly diseases.

In feedlot cattle, a total replacement of inorganic trace minerals with lower levels of organic trace minerals (60 percent of commercial levels for inorganics) was able to reduce mortality by 57 percent and mortality due to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) by 69 percent. Even in the cattle contracting BRD, the number of retreats was significantly reduced with organic trace minerals (Holder et al., 2016). Too good to be true? A separate study conducted on a different continent confirmed the effects: organic trace mineral groups showed a 7.7 percent decrease in even the incidence of BRD (Sgoifo Rossi et al., 2018).

"BRD costs the U.S. beef industry upwards of $800 million and is the greatest concern and cause of loss at the feed yard,” said Dr. Vaughn Holder, lead beef researcher at Alltech. “Organic trace minerals provide a new reinforcement to the animals’ first line of defense and add tremendously to the producer’s peace of mind."

In poultry, necrotic enteritis (NE) brings devastating costs, approaching $6 billion annually with mortality rates of 1 percent per day. Organic trace minerals eliminated bird death due to NE, reducing mortality by 12 percent compared to inorganics (He et al., 2017; Bortoluzzi et al., 2017). Birds on organic trace minerals also showed significant positive changes to the expression of genes related to improved disease resistance.

From gene expression to disease markers and mortality, there is mounting evidence that the bioavailability of organic minerals better equips animals to take on and survive disease challenges.

5. Organic trace minerals lead to extended shelf life and improved meat quality

The impact of organic trace minerals spans the entire food chain, all the way to our own refrigerators. Animal nutrition directly affects meat quality, as feeding organic trace minerals results in meat that lasts longer and tastes juicier.

"Trace minerals are essential to antioxidant enzymes in the meat," said Dr. Rebecca Delles, an Alltech meat scientist. "By providing a trace mineral source that is more bioavailable, those antioxidants have a better mineral supply to sustain their activity."

Proving her point, beef from steers that were fed organic trace minerals showed increased antioxidant activity, which led to extended shelf life (Sgoifo Rossi et al., 2018). That same meat also showed increased water retention, which improves profitability and texture. Dr. Delles found that organic trace minerals had the same effect in pork loin and chicken breast, beneficially improving both sensory experience and the producer’s bottom line (Delles et al., 2014; Delles et al., 2016).

"The average amount of time it takes a consumer to recover from a bad meat purchase is three months,” said Dr. Delles. “If the appearance, flavor or texture is perceived as being low quality, it will be another three months before the customer reconsiders purchasing that meat product. In fresh pork, if only 5 percent of U.S. consumers have a bad meat experience, that could still bring a projected loss of 3 percent — or $181,938,556.80 — over the course of 12 weeks due to what might seem like 'just color or texture.'"

6. More efficient organic trace minerals decrease the environmental impact of livestock

Bioavailable organic trace minerals are the exclusive method of sustaining animal performance while simultaneously lowering environmental impact.

The instability of inorganic minerals makes them difficult for the animal to absorb. This often leads to overfeeding of trace minerals and, therefore, excretion of large quantities of minerals back into the environment. These excreted minerals alter what is known as a “mineral footprint” and contribute to soil and water contamination.

The improved bioavailability allowing lower inclusion rates of organic trace minerals has been found to directly reduce the mineral footprint of livestock.

A series of trials conducted by agriculture institutions across China in 2017 found that in swine, poultry and ruminants, organic trace minerals could be fed at substantially lower quantities than inorganics and yield the same performance — but return much lower mineral excretion. The same was not true for inorganics: while low levels of inorganics also reduced mineral excretion, they were detrimental to animal health and reduced performance (Guo et al., 2017; Ma et al., 2018; Qui et al., 2018).

"This type of research changes the way we study animal nutrition,” said Dr. Karl Dawson, ruminant microbiologist and chief scientific officer at Alltech. “These are the solutions we need to sustainably feed our growing populations — benefitting all stakeholders while decreasing the environmental impact of intensive animal production systems."

7. Optimal organic trace mineral nutrition improves herd health, reproduction and performance for multiple generations

Trace minerals have a multigenerational effect. Like other nutrients, trace minerals change gene expression, effectively turning genes on or off, up or down. Those changes in gene expression are heritable — meaning the effects of a mother's nutrition, good or bad, are passed on to her offspring before they even take their first bite of feed. This phenomenon, known as epigenetics, gives producers and nutritionists the power to use nutrition to build their future herd. 

Dairy scientists at Pennsylvania State University studied a herd over three generations and found that heifer calves experienced 10 fewer days of sickness and came into estrus 26 days sooner when their dams were fed organic trace minerals (Gelsinger et al., 2016; Pino et al., 2018). This was true even for heifer calves who didn't consume organic trace minerals themselves, confirming that the effect was solely due to maternal nutrition. Fewer days of sickness are correlated to increased milk production later in life and reaching reproductive maturity almost one month sooner, which is worth approximately $100/head in management costs and a 2-3 percent decrease in carbon footprint.

In beef cattle, calves born to cows fed organic trace minerals showed improved body weight through weaning and again at 205 days, regardless of their own diet (Price et al., 2017). Weaning is one of the most critical stress points in the beef life cycle — but organic trace minerals in utero allowed weaning and young calves to thrive despite their circumstances. While trace minerals can have an incredible impact on a single animal, results like these show potential for strategized feeding for the future herd.

The advent of precision feeding

From feed to fork, trace mineral source makes all the difference. Organic trace minerals provide livestock with an essential nutrient in an optimized form, and the effects of such precision reverberate throughout the entire food chain. With effects on animal health and welfare, producer livelihood, consumer preference and environmental protection, no stakeholder is overlooked. This is the advent of a revolution in precision feeding. Well-timed, optimally designed nutrients can reveal to us an animal's real requirements and allow them to achieve their true genetic potential, so that we can build better herds and feed a growing population.

Click here to learn more about solutions through the Alltech Mineral Management program. 

Citations

Holder, V. B., Jennings, J. S., Covey, T. L. (2016). Effect of total replacement of trace minerals with Bioplex® proteinated minerals on the health and performance of lightweight, high-risk feedlot cattle, Journal of Animal Science, 94 (5), 120

Taylor-Pickard, J., Nollet, L., and Geers, R. (2013). Performance, carcass characteristics and economic benefits of total replacement of inorganic minerals by organic forms in growing pig diets, J. Appl. Anim. Nutr. 2 (e3): 1-3

T Ao, JL Pierce, AJ Pescatore, AC Cantor, KA Dawson & MJ Ford. (2009). Effects of feeding reduced levels of organic minerals (Bioplex) on the development of white layer pullets, Poult. Sci. 88 (Suppl. 1), 197

Sgoifo Rossi, C.A., Ripamonti, G., and Compiani, R. (2018, May). Not all mineral supplements for beef cattle bring same results. Feedstuffs, 90 (5).

He, B., King, W., Graugnard, D., Dawson, K.A., Bortoluzzi, C., Applegate, T. (2017). Zinc source influences the gene expression of zinc transporters in the jejunum and cecal tonsils of broilers challenged with coccidia and Clostridium perfringens., Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA, 17-23 July, 2017

Bortoluzzi, C., Lumpkins, B., Mathis, G., King, W.D., Graugnard, D., Dawson, K.A., Applegate, T. Comparative efficacy of dietary zinc sources for the mitigation of the impact of necrotic enteritis in coccidial challenged broiler chickens, Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA, 17-23 July, 2017

Delles, R.M., Xiong, Y.L., True, A.D., Ao, T., Dawson, K.A. (2014) Dietary antioxidant supplementation enhances lipid and protein oxidative stability of chicken broiler meat through promotion of antioxidant enzyme activity, Poult. Sci. 93:1561-1570

Delles, R.M.,  Naylor, A., Kocher, A., Dawson, K.A., Samuel, R.S. (2016). Diets with organic trace minerals (Bioplex®) and yeast protein (NuPro®) improved the water-holding capacity of pork loin meat, Midwest Animal Science Meetings, March; J. Animal Sci. 94 (Supple. 2): 65

Guo, Y., Liu, B., Xiong, P., He, J., Gang, L., Xue, Y.,Koontz, A.F., Yu, D. (2017). Effect of Cu Provided As Bioplex® Cu or TBCC for Weaned Pigs, Growth Performance, Tissue Mineral Retention, and Fecal Mineral Excretion, ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting, 17-20 July, Baltimore, MD, USA, 2017

LX Ma, JN He, CC Hou, JL Qiu, XT Lu, B Liu, G Lin, Y Xue, AF Koontz, DY Yu. (2018). Effect of compound organic trace minerals on growth performance, serum indices and micromineral excretion in fattening pigs, ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting, 5-8 July, Vancouver, Canada

JL Qui, XT Lu, LX Ma, CC Hou, JN He, B Liu, G Lin, T Ao, DY Yu (2018). Effect of low dose complex organic trace minerals on productive performance, egg quality and fecal mineral excretion of laying hens, Poult. Sci. 97 (e-Suppl. 1): 202

Price, D.M., Arellano, K.K., Irsik, M., Rae, D.O., Yelich, J.V., Mjoun, K., Hersom, M.J., (2017) Professional Animal Scientist 33: 194–204

Gelsinger et al., 2016 Maternal and early life nutrition and calf health

Pino et al., 2017 Maternal and early life nutrition and offspring first lactation