5.8: Macrominerals
- Page ID
- 181604
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Minerals are inorganic elements essential for structural and regulatory functions. They are classified by quantitative requirements.
Image credit: Kaboompics.com from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-o...ytals-4040639/
Macrominerals (>0.01% of diet) are essential minerals required by animals in relatively large amounts to support vital physiological functions. They play key roles in bone formation, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, osmotic balance, and acid–base regulation. The primary macrominerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, and sulfur. Adequate and balanced intake of these minerals is crucial for growth, reproduction, and overall animal health.
Calcium and Phosphorus account for 99% and 80%, respectively, of these minerals in the body, primarily in bones and teeth. Calcium also functions in nerve transmission, muscle contraction, blood clotting, and enzyme activation. Phosphorus is essential to ATP, nucleic acids, phospholipids, and buffer systems.
Blood calcium is tightly regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and vitamin D. Hypocalcemia stimulates PTH release, which increases bone resorption, renal calcium retention, and renal synthesis of active vitamin D, enhancing intestinal calcium absorption.
Deficiency causes rickets in young animals and osteomalacia in adults, both marked by weak bones, deformities, lameness, and fractures. In dairy cows, milk fever occurs around calving when the demand for calcium in milk exceeds the body’s ability to supply it. It is treated with intravenous calcium and prevented by adjusting the pre-calving diet to slightly increase acidity, which helps the cow mobilize calcium more effectively.
Magnesium activates enzymes involved in phosphate transfer and functions in bone structure. Deficiency manifests as grass tetany in ruminants grazing lush, rapidly growing pasture. Clinical signs include hyperexcitability, muscle tremors, tetanic spasms, convulsions, and sudden death. High potassium and nitrogen in spring grass inhibit magnesium absorption. Treatment involves intravenous magnesium sulfate; prevention includes magnesium supplementation.
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride) help regulate fluid balance, acid–base status, and nerve and muscle function. Sodium is the main ion outside cells, potassium is the main ion inside cells, and chloride is the main negative ion outside cells and is needed to make stomach acid. The balance of these electrolytes in the diet influences growth, bone strength in poultry, and the risk of milk fever in dairy cows.
Sulfur is a component of sulfur-containing amino acids, vitamins (thiamin, biotin), and structural proteins (keratin in hair, wool, feathers; chondroitin sulfate in cartilage). Requirements are generally met through amino acid intake, though ruminants may benefit from inorganic sulfur when consuming non-protein nitrogen sources.
Photo credit: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur