Trace elements

Abstract

A trace element solution comprises selenium, zinc, manganese and iron at a concentration of at least 60 mg/ml. The solution may further comprise at least one compound selected from the group comprising iodine, potassium iodide, sodium iodide, iron chloride, zinc oxide, manganese sulphate, sodium selenite, copper carbonate, sodium carbonate, anhydrous disodium EDTA and sodium hydroxide.

Claims

1. An injectable trace element solution, said solution comprising: (a) selenium; (b) zinc; (c) manganese; and (d) iron, wherein a total concentration of selenium, zinc, manganese and iron in the solution is at least 60 mg/ml.

2. The solution of claim 1, wherein the concentration of selenium in the solution is 5 to 10 mg/ml.

3. The solution of claim 1, wherein the concentration of zinc in the solution is 35 to 50 mg/ml.

4. The solution of claim 1, further comprising at least one of copper and chromium.

5. The solution of claim 1, further comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of iodine, potassium iodide, sodium iodide, iron chloride, zinc oxide, manganese sulphate, sodium selenite, copper carbonate, sodium carbonate, anhydrous disodium EDTA and sodium hydroxide.

6. The solution of claim 5, wherein at least one of the metals is provided in the form of an EDTA complex.

7. The solution of claim 6, wherein the EDTA complex is produced from at least one compound selected from the group consisting of sodium EDTA and potassium EDTA.

8. The solution of claim 1, further comprising chlorocresol as preservative.

9. The solution of claim 1, further comprising 5-10 mg/ml chromium.

10. The solution of claim 1, wherein the iron in solution is 5-50 mg/ml.

11. The solution of claim 1, further comprising 20-400 mg/ml iodine.

12. The solution of claim 1, wherein the selenium is present in an amount of 5 mg/ml.

13. The solution of claim 1, further comprising 5-10 mg/ml chromium.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

(1) The invention will now be described by way of example of injectable solutions in accordance with the invention.

Example 1

(2) Example 1 relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for cattle and includes the mineral elements selenium, copper and chromium.

(3) The method enables preparation of 25 litres of the solution containing 40 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 5 mg Se, 15 mg Cu and 5 mg Cr per ml.

A. Preparing MnCO.SUB.3

(4) In a suitable container/drum, the MnCO.sub.3 mud is prepared by adding solutions of 900 g MnSO.sub.4 and 1150 g Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 together. The resultant mixture is decanted and washed three times.

B. Continuous Batch Process

(5) To the MnCO.sub.3 mud, hot water (70 C.) is added to a volume of at least 15 litres. Critical is the temperature at the start of the batch process which should be at least 60 C.

(6) B.1 Preparing MnEDTA

(7) 2000 g EDTA and 500 g NaOH are weighed; the EDTA and NaOH are mixed; the EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent excessive frothing, until the reaction is complete (leaving a clear pinkish solution).

(8) B.2 Preparing ZnEDTA (2 steps)

(9) Step 1:

(10) 2600 g EDTA, 690 g NaOH and 700 g ZnO are weighed, the EDTA and NaOH are mixed and ZnO is kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(11) Step 2:

(12) 2600 g EDTA, 690 g NaOH and 700 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, where after the ZnO is added. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(13) B.3 Preparing CuEDTA 1760 g EDTA, 462 g NaOH and 693 g basic CuCO.sub.3 are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the CuCO.sub.3 kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, followed by careful addition of the CuCO.sub.3, to prevent excessive frothing, and the reaction is allowed to complete (leaving a clear blue solution).
B.4 25 g chlorocresol is added and stirred till dissolved.
B.5 23 litres is made up
B.6 The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature.

C. Final Phase

(14) C.1 303 g Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added.

(15) C.2 The pH is adjusted to 6,7 by adding NaOH (40% solution) or EDTA.

(16) C.3 738 g EDTA, 192 g NaOH and 641 g CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2O are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and added to the drum. The CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2O is added, whereby the reaction is slow.

(17) C.4 The volume is made up to 25 litres.

Example 2

(18) Example 2 relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for sheep and includes the mineral elements Selenium and Copper.

(19) The method enables preparation of 100 litres of the solution containing 40 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 3 mg Se and 10 mg Cu per ml.

A. Preparing MnCO.SUB.3

(20) In a suitable container/drum, the MnCO.sub.3 mud is prepared by adding solutions of 3600 g MnSO.sub.4 and 4600 g Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 together. The mixture is decanted and wash three times.

B. Continuous Batch Process

(21) To the MnCO.sub.3 mud, is added hot water (70 C.) to a volume of at least 60 litres. The temperature at the start of the batch process is critical and should be at least 60 C.

(22) B.1 Preparing MnEDTA 8000 g EDTA and 2000 g NaOH are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent excessive frothing, until the reaction is complete (leaving a clear pinkish solution).

(23) B.2 Preparing ZnEDTA (2 steps)

(24) Step 1:

(25) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(26) Step 2:

(27) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(28) B.3 Preparing CuEDTA

(29) 4646 g EDTA, 1220 g NaOH and 1835 g basic CuCO.sub.3 are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the CuCO.sub.3 kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, followed by careful addition of the CuCO.sub.3, to prevent excessive frothing, and the reaction is allowed to complete (leaving a clear blue solution).

(30) B.4 100 g chlorocresol is added and the mixture stirred until dissolved.

(31) B.5 The volume is made up to 96 litres

(32) B.6 The mixture is cooled to room temperature.

C. Final Phase

(33) C.1 728 g Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added.

(34) C.2 The pH is adjusted to 6,7 by adding NaOH (40% solution) or EDTA.

(35) C.3 The volume is made up to 100 litres.

Example 3

(36) Example 3 relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for cattle and includes the mineral elements Selenium and Copper.

(37) The method enables preparation of 100 litres of the solution containing 40 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 5 mg Se and 15 mg Cu per ml.

A. Preparing MnCO.SUB.3

(38) In a suitable container/drum, the MnCO.sub.3 mud is prepared by adding solutions of 3600 g MnSO.sub.4 and 4600 g Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 together. The mixture is decanted and wash three times.

Continuous Batch Process

(39) To the MnCO.sub.3 mud, hot water (70 C.) is added to a volume of at least 60 litres. The temperature at the start of the batch process is critical and should be at least 60 C.

(40) B.1 Preparing MnEDTA

(41) 7840 g EDTA and 1960 g NaOH are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are weighed. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent excessive frothing, until the reaction is complete (leaving a clear pinkish solution).

(42) B.2 Preparing ZnEDTA (2 steps)

(43) Step 1:

(44) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(45) Step 2:

(46) 10400 g EDTA, 2760 g NaOH and 2800 g ZnO are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the ZnO kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, in small quantities to prevent boiling over, followed by addition of the ZnO. The reaction is allowed to complete (again leaving a clear pink solution). The temperature at this stage could reach 103 C.

(47) B.3 Preparing CuEDTA

(48) 7040 g EDTA, 1848 g NaOH and 2780 g basic CuCO.sub.3 are weighed. The EDTA and NaOH are mixed and the CuCO.sub.3 kept separate. The EDTA/NaOH mixture is added to the drum, followed by careful addition of the CuCO.sub.3, to prevent excessive frothing, and the reaction is allowed to complete (leaving a clear blue solution).

(49) B.4 100 g chlorocresol is added and the mixture stirred till dissolved.

(50) B.5 The mixture is made up to 96 litres

(51) B.6 The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature.

B. Final Phase

(52) C.1 1212 g Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added.

(53) C.2 The pH is adjusted to 7,0 by adding NaOH (40% solution) or EDTA.

(54) C.3 The volume is made up to 100 litres.

General

(55) The invention therefore provides a trace element solution which is tissue friendly, i.e. is not damaging or irritant to the tissue of animals and which comprises selenium, copper, zinc, manganese, iron and chromium and at a concentration of the metals of at least 60 mg/ml. The trace elements in solution are in a scientifically formulated ratio according to the post-absorption requirements of the animals, calculated to provide, the following trace element solution example comprising: (a) 35-50 mg/ml of zinc; (b) 10-15 mg/ml manganese; (c) 5-10 mg/ml selenium; (d) 10-20 mg/ml copper; (e) 5-10 mg/ml chromium; (f) 5-50 mg/ml iron; and (g) comprises 20-400 mg/ml iodine.
The iodine is provided in the form of potassium iodide or sodium iodide and the iron is provided in the form of iron chloride.

(56) The method of preparing a trace element solution in accordance with the invention thus enables the production of a solution comprising an adequate trace mineral concentration so that a 5 to 10 ml injection can make a significant impact on the trace mineral status of the animal, i.e. a practically applicable injectable supplement and a product that can improve the trace mineral status of an animal is provided. This is important as livestock producers will only inject livestock if a real benefit can be demonstrated. Furthermore, the subcutaneous injection is the preferred route to minimize tissue damage.