Mineral Education

OUR MOTO:  Research proves that you can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment you face in the cattle industry to a mineral deficiency … but not all mineral is created equal!

CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC MINERALS:

Metal Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate (MHTBa)

• The result of chelating a metal salt with a specific organic acid to form coordinate covalent bonds.
• This is different than Amino Acid Chelates because no nitrogen is present.
• Mode of absorption is different therefore this technology offers the highest bio-availability and bypass efficiency in the industry.

Metal Amino Acid Chelates

• These are minerals that are attached to one to three individual single amino acids with at least two bonds from each amino acid attaching to the mineral resulting in heterocyclic ring formations.
• Formation of a heterocyclic ring is an absolute requirement for an amino acid chelate to exist.
• The heterocyclic ring structure found in an amino acid chelate provides stability and protection during digestion for optimal mineral absorption.

Specific Metal Amino Acid Complexes

• These occur when an amino acid donates two electrons to the metal to form a bond.
•  These complexes attach a metal at only 1 end of the amino acid chain. There is little protection to the metal during digestion of a metal complex.
• Complexed minerals are not chelates even when the complexing ligand is an amino acid.

Metal Amino Acid Complexes

• These occurs when one or more undefined amino acids donate two electrons to the metal to form a bond.
• These complexes attach a metal at only 1 end of the amino acid chain. There is little protection to the metal during digestion of a metal complex.
• The structure can be destroyed in the gastrointestinal track. If the metal is released from the complex, it will behave as if it were an inorganic metal.
• Complexed minerals are not chelates even when the complexing ligand is an amino acid.

Metal Proteinates

• Are the result from the chelation of a soluble mineral salt with an amino acid and/or partially hydrolyzed protein.
• By definition, a metal proteinate is large and therefore requires further digestion before any of its parts, including the metal portion can be absorbed.
• Frequently the metal (is disassociated) during digestion before mineral absorption occurs.
• Due to the varying nature of amino acid and/or hydrolyzed protein (ligands) used to make a metal proteinate, chelation has not been proven.

Metal Polysaccharide Complexes

• Result from complexing a soluble salt with a polysaccharide (sugar).
• The product is generally an organic mineral matrix with questionable chemical bonding between the metal and the polysaccharide.
• These are large molecules based on chains of simple sugars.
• They lack stability and are easily broken in solution, freeing the metal back into its ionic state. They are not chelates.

AAFCO DEFINITIONS OF ORGANIC MINERALS:

METAL METHIONINE HYDROXY ANALOGUE CHELATE
is the product resulting from the reaction of a metal salt with 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (HMTBa), having a chelated molar ratio of one mole of metal to two moles of HMTBa to form coordinate covalent bonds. The specific metal chelate must be declared as a metal methionine bydroxyl analogue chelate. – MINTREX/NOVUS

METAL AMINO ACID CHELATE
The product resulting from the reaction of a metal ion from a soluble metal salt with amino acids. It has a mole ratio with 1 mole of metal to 1-3 (preferably 2) moles of amino acid to form coordinate covalent bonds. The average weight of the amino acids must be approximately 150 daltons and the resulting molecular weight of the chelate must not exceed 800 daltons. When used as a commercial feed ingredient it must be declared as a specific metal amino acid chelate. (Adopted 1988) -ALBION METAL AMINO ACID CHELATES -NUPLEX METAL AMINO ACID CHELATES

METAL AMINO ACID COMPLEX
The product resulting from complexing of a soluble salt (such as potassium or manganese) with an amino acid(s). Minimum metal content must be declared. When used as a commercial feed ingredient, it must be declared as a specific metal amino complex: i.e., potassium amino acid complex; copper amino acid complex; zinc amino acid complex; iron amino acid complex; cobalt amino acid complex; calcium amino acid complex; manganese amino acid complex. (Adopted 1990) -ZINPRO/AVAILA 4

METAL (specific amino acid) COMPLEX
The product resulting from complexing a soluble metal salt with a speci c amino acid. Minimum metal content must be declared. When used as a commercial feed ingredient it must be declared as a speci c metal, speci c amino complex: i.e., copper lysine; zinc lysine; ferric methionine; manganese methionine and zinc methionine. (Adopted 1992) -NUPLEX Potassium Complex -ZINPRO/AVAILA 4 products, Global Animal -ALBION Potassium Complex

METAL PROTEINATE
The product resulting from the chelation of a soluble salt with amino acids and/or partially hydrolyzed protein. It must be declared as an ingredient as the speci c metal proteinate: i.e., copper proteinate; zinc proteinate; magnesium proteinate; iron proteinate; cobalt proteinate; manganese proteinate; or calcium proteinate. (Amended 1987). -ALLTECH, BALCHEM, AND TROUW

METAL POLYSACCHARIDE COMPLEX
The product resulting from the complexing of a soluble salt with a polysaccharide solution declared as an ingredient as the speci c metal complex: i.e., copper polysaccharide complex; zinc polysaccharide complex; iron polysaccharide complex; cobalt polysaccharide complex; and manganese polysaccharide complex. (Adopted 1973) -QUALITEC

METAL PROPIONATE
Product resulting from the reaction of a metal salt with propionic acid. The metal propionates are prepared with an excess of propionic acid, at an appropriate stoichometric ratio. It must be declared as an ingredient of the speci c metal propionate. -KEMIN