Pig glossary
Minerals
As in the case of vitamins, the mineral requirements are also relatively small in comparison with other nutrients as, for example, proteins or carbohydrates. Nevertheless, their importance must not be underestimated, because their deficiency or excess can cause many problems.
Minerals are important for several vital functions in the body, such as bone formation, the obtaining of energy, the construction of cells, etc. Some of the minerals used in feed formulation are: copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, manganese, iodine, cobalt, selenium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, chlorine... some of which must be provided in very small amounts (trace minerals).