The vets role in vitamin and mineral supplementation on farm - ensuring food chain safety

摘要

Supplementation of animals with minerals and trace elements may be required to ensure health, welfare and productivity. Maximum permitted levels of trace elements under EU regulations are determined by assessments of risk to animals, food consumers, the environment and human material handling. Levels are corrected to 88% dry matter including all feeds, supplements and water intake. However, concentrations may vary in forage, moist feeds, straights, co-products and blends before ration supplementation. Some compounds are available as drenches, long acting boluses or in other therapeutic agents such as wormers under different legislative frameworks. Labels may declare the element, such as copper, or the compound, such as copper sulphate pentahydrate-where the majority of weight is water of crystallisation.