E.C.O.Trace

ORGANICALLY BOUND TRACE MINERALS

Essentiality:

The trace minerals zinc, manganese, copper and iron are involved in a wide variety of important physiological processes. An adequate supply is of high relevance for various parameters of animal performance and health.

Figure 1: Important physiological functions of trace minerals.

Critical situations:

The challenge of modern trace mineral feeding is to meet the requirements of high-performing animals and, at the same time, avoid excess dosage and excretion of metals. Although essential trace minerals are added to the diet according to official recommendations, suboptimal supply situations occur in practice. Along with a constant increase in the requirements of high-performing modern breeds, there are specific situations leading to a higher demand for trace minerals:

Prenatal intra-uterine growth
Regeneration after farrowing / calving
Trace mineral loss via milk
Reduced feed intake
Lower absorption capacity with increasing age
Weakened immune system
Stress factors (heat, feed change, relocation, stocking
density, etc.)
Anemic situations in young animals

A secondary deficiency can result from the presence of organic compounds or other minerals that reduce the absorption of essential trace minerals. These antagonisms are pronounced with increasing trace mineral levels in the feed and when metals are present in ionic form in the upper gastro-intestinal tract (GIT).

Native contents of trace minerals are too low to fulfill the demand of modern farm animals.

Trace mineral	Important antagonists
Zn	Cu, Fe, Ca, Phytate
Cu	Zn, Fe, Mo, S, Ca
Mn	Fe, Ca, P
Fe	Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, Phytate

Multi Species

E.C.O.Trace® glycinates – Mode of action:

The form of chemical binding has a significant effect on susceptibility to antagonisms and thus on the bioavailability of trace minerals in the GIT. The metals in E.C.O.Trace® are bound to the amino acid glycine. Compared to traditionally used inorganic forms, the metal-glycine complex offers an effective way to provide trace minerals in a less reactive, highly efficient form:

Higher vitamin stability in premixes
Superior stability of metal-glycine complex at low pH values in the upper GIT (rumen, stomach) → “Protection“ and less release of metal ions
Less complex formation between metal ions and other
dietary compounds (e.g. phytate)
Reduced antagonistic effects in absorption between
metal ions
Effective transport to the intestinal wall and beneficial
absorption rate of trace minerals

E.C.O.Trace® glycinates have been successfully used in feeding high-performance animals since 2007. The superior absorption rate of trace minerals from E.C.O.Trace® has been proven in several scientific studies showing higher values in bioavailability compared to sulfates.

Figure 3: Apparent digestibility of Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe measured in postweaning piglets that received diets containing sulfates or E.C.O.Trace® glycinates (Bioavailability studies, FU Berlin 2009-2012). A number of advantages arise from the excellent bioavailability of E.C.O.Trace® minerals:

Improved trace mineral status and safe supply in situations of increased demand
Reduced risk for subclinical deficiency symptoms
Lower excretion of metals

Figure 2: Differences in the mode of action between E.C.O.Trace® and metal sulfates.

Glycine – The smart binding partner

The use of glycine in the production of E.C.O.Trace® allows several advantages compared to other forms of trace mineral complexes:

The use of synthetic glycine guarantees optimal
availability of binding partners for a high degree of
metal complexation
Glycine is the smallest amino acid occurring in nature and therefore allows the highest metal content for low inclusion rates
Water solubility enables universal application
A well-designed chemical composition allows a better
routine control of qualit

The right solution for every demand

E.C.O.Trace® glycinates are produced in a standardized
process based on Biochem᾿s extensive experience in
organically bound trace minerals developed over more than 20 years. The Biochem E.C.O.Trace® product range delivers the essential trace minerals, zinc, copper, manganese and iron, in high quality. In a special drying process, a granulated structure is generated to offer the following advantages:

Homogenous particles
Good flowability for optimal dosing
Minimized dust formation for maximum working safety
Low moisture content
Excellent mixing behavior

Figure 4: Relative bioavailability value (RBV) of trace minerals from different sources (adapted from Männer & Hundhausen, 2010).

E.C.O.Trace® Zinc

E.C.O.Trace® products are available as single components and in the form of optimized combinations

E.C.O.Trace® Manganese

Product	Metal %	Glycine %
E.C.O.Trace® Zn	≥ 25	> 29
E.C.O.Trace® Cu	≥ 23	> 27
E.C.O.Trace® Mn	≥ 20	> 28
E.C.O.Trace® Fe	≥ 20	> 27

Biochem E.C.O.Trace® glycinates are convenient for the production of all kinds of premixes, mineral and mixed feeding stuffs. Along with E.C.O.Trace® single additives, we offer various combination products to provide a wide range of animal specific solutions.

Regarding animal nutrition as a holistic process enables us to develop reliable and intelligent concepts for you and your customers. Our work and our actions are onsistently guided by our slogan: Feed Safety for Food Safety®.

Quality based on experience and control The careful choice of raw materials as well as the analysis of valuable and undesired ingredients are among our highest priorities. You can benefit from our many years of expertise in the field of organically bound trace minerals that contributes to the outstanding, stable quality of our E.C.O.Trace® glycinates:

Optimized formulation and process quality for a high level of metal complexation
Frequent and comprehensive control of product quality by routine and special analysis
Extensive certification and quality management