Recent Advances
in Mineral Nutrition of Goats
Cooperative Extension Dairy Specialist University of Delaware.
During the last five years major advances in research of macro- and microelement
nutrition of goats have occurred. The uniqueness of goats in many aspects
of mineral metabolism, especially Cu, I, Se, Mo, as has been documented.
Nutritional requirements of Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, I, F, S, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Cd,
As, Se, Li, Co, Mo, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Al, and Br from research with goats are
discussed. Mineral deficiencies in goats in many countries are caused by
low or variable contents due to season and maturity of plants and low digestibilities.
The reliability of body tissues as an indicator of deficiencies varies greatly
with mineral elements. Major performance improvements have been achieved,
nevertheless, where mineral supplementations were applied correctly. George
F. W. Haenlein
