Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter

J.L. Pimentel and M.E. Cook
Poultry Science
1987

Low-salt diets compromise the immune system of chicks.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Spring 2004 (Vol 35, No.1)
An animal's ability to recognize its nutritional needs, sources of that nutrient and the ability to consume adequate amounts of that nutrient is an important motivator of cafeteria-style mineral feeding such as free-choice feeding. Nutrient deficient animals sample novel foods and develop a preference for those meeting their mineral requirements; this has been proven for energy, protein and/or amino acids, sodium and, to a lesser extenst, phosphorus and sulfur.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Winter 2003 (Vol 35, No.4)
The cost-driven push for feed efficiency makes nutrient availability an important consideration. Factors affecting the availability of different trace minerals include the animal's age and species and level of intake. Excess intake decreases absorption and nutrients interact as in the case of copper and molybdenum.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Fall 2003 (Vol 35, No.3)
Magnesium deficiencyis usually thought to be the cause of grass tetany, but the sodium-potassium ratio may be equally important. Feeding high levels of magnesium (as found in early season forages) can depress ruminants' serum magnesium. Free choice feeding of salt may be the key to controlling grass tetany.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Summer 2003 (Vol 35, No.2)
Antioxidants are a hot topic in human nutrition. They are also important in animal health, particularly in improving health and longevity. Of particular interest is the antioxidant roles of selenium and vitamin E.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Spring 2003 (Vol 34, No.4)
Recent droughts in the U.S. have hit beef producers hard, forcing liquidation of cowherds. Producers examining alternative feeding strategies should consider how salt-limited supplementation can reduce production costs when forages are limited.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Winter 2002 (Vol 34, No.3)
Zinc is an essential nutrient and new research extends our understanding of both the physiological and pharmacological roles of zinc in animal diets.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Fall 2002 (Vol 34, No.2)
Heat, cold, antagonistic social interactions -- they stress us and they stress livestock and poultry. Minimizing stress in animals improves their health and productivity -- and producers' bottom lines. Stressful production environments increase salt requirements and salt appetite. Adding salt in these situations helps animals cope with stress.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Winter 2001 (Vol 33, No.2)
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE or "mad cow disease" has devastated the cattle industry in the United Kingdom and terrified producers worldwide. It may even be spreading to humans in the form of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. The cause is undetermined; bacteria and viruses have been ruled out. A new and controversial theory is that trace mineral imbalance is the root cause.

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.
Salt Institute
Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter
Summer 2001 (Vol 33, No.1)
Forages are the basal dietary ingredients for beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep and horses. Knowing the nutritional content of forages is essential to understanding the need for nutrient fortification. Surveys show few producers are diligent in determining their forage nutritional profile. Tables show trace nutrient requirements for various forages: alfalfa, brome, bermuda and fescue.