Macro and micro minerals take part in countless functions and metabolic processes in the body of any animal species and therefore their daily needs must be supplied by the feed. Some animal species raised in confinement are subject to mineral deficiencies, and that is why providing them with mineral supplements is a necessary practice to ensure they develop healthily.

              When evaluating feed and nutritional supplements one needs to consider the concentration of the element and especially its bioavailability. Supplying minerals through feed is not in itself a guarantee that they will be absorbed, as many factors affect their use. Such factors may be inherent to the food, like its physical-chemical composition, or inherent to the animal, like age, GIT pH, excess or lack of certain nutrients, sanitation, etc.

              The use of organic minerals as nutritional supplements has yielded good results in supplying animals’ mineral deficiencies. Organic minerals are made of metallic ions sequestered by amino acids, and are highly bioavailable and stable. Their absorption is similar to the minerals found naturally in animal diet and is ensured by a passive transportation mechanism in the GIT. They do not face competition by other substances, as they are already bound to their own amino acids. They are chemically inert; therefore, they do not interact with free metallic ions and are absorbed directly into the plasma through the cells in the intestinal mucosa.

              Grasp works with four organic minerals: iron, copper, zinc and manganese. Such minerals take part in functions of the immune system (Cu, Zn, Fe), the hormonal and enzymatic system (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), the reproductive system (Cu, Mn) and in generating energy (Mn), along with other specific benefits related to each species.