Trace elements

Abstract

The inventions discloses a trace element solution, which comprises at least the following metals: zinc; manganese; selenium; and copper; and which comprises a concentration of the metals of at least 90 mg/ml. The solution may comprise the following concentrations: at least 60 mg/ml zinc; at least 10 mg/ml manganese; at least 5 mg/ml selenium; and at least 15 mg/ml copper. The solution may comprise chromium, iodine and chromium.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a trace element solution with a concentration of the metals of at least 90 mg/ml, said method comprising: (a) heating water; (b) adding manganese carbonate to the water wherein manganese sulphate and sodium carbonate are not used in situ manufacture of the manganese carbonate; (c) adding zinc oxide to the water; (d) adding copper carbonate to the water to form a liquid mixture; (e) adding a dry mixture comprising ethylene diaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) and/or ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and NaOH to the liquid mixture; and (f) adding Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 to form the trace element solution with a concentration of metals of at least 90 mg/ml, wherein the trace element solution has at least 60 mg/ml zinc.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which in step (a) the water is heated to 70 C.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which step (e) occurs slowly to prevent excessive frothing.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising adding chloro-cresol to the solution and stirred until dissolved.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the pH of the solution is adjusted.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises adding CrCl.sub.3.6H.sub.2O to the trace element solution.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises adjusting the pH of the trace element solution to 6.0 to 8.0.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises adjusting the pH of the trace element solution by adding at least one compound selected from the group consisting of NaOH and EDTA.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprises cooling the trace element solution prior to addition of the Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, which is a batch process.

11. A trace element solution which is prepared by the method as claimed in claim 1.

12. A method of preparing a trace element solution with a concentration of metals being at least 90 mg/ml, said method consisting essentially of the steps of: (a) heating water; (b) adding manganese carbonate to the water wherein manganese sulphate and sodium carbonate are not used in situ manufacture of the manganese carbonate; (c) adding zinc oxide to the water; (d) adding copper carbonate to the water to form a liquid mixture; (e) adding a dry mixture comprising ethylene diaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) and/or ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and NaOH to the liquid mixture; and (f) adding Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 to form the trace element solution having at least 90 mg/ml of metals, wherein the trace element solution has at least 60 mg/ml zinc.

13. The trace elements solution of claim 11, wherein the metals have the following concentrations: (a) at least 10 mg/ml manganese; (b) at least 5 mg/ml selenium; and (c) at least 15 mg/ml copper.

14. The trace elements solution of as claimed in claim 11, in which the ratio of zinc to manganese is at least 2:1.

15. The trace elements solution of claim 11, in which the ratio of zinc to manganese is at least 4:1.

16. The trace elements solution of claim 11, in which the ratio of zinc to copper is at least 2:1 or 4:1.

17. The trace elements solution of claim 11, in which the ratio of zinc to selenium is at least 4:1 or 12:1.

18. The trace elements solution of claim 11, in which at least one of the metals is provided in the form of an ethylene diaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) complex and/or an ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) complex.

19. The trace elements solution of claim 17, in which the EDTA source is EDTA acid, disodium EDTA, tetra-sodium EDTA, calcium EDTA, potassium EDTA and/or any other EDTA source.

20. A trace element solution with a concentration of the metals of at least 90 mg/ml, produced by the method of claim 12.

21. The trace elements solution of claim 20, wherein the metals have the following concentrations: (a) at least 10 mg/ml manganese; (b) at least 5 mg/ml selenium; and (c) at least 15 mg/ml copper.

22. The trace elements solution of claim 20, in which the ratio of zinc to manganese is at least 2:1.

23. The trace elements solution of claim 20, in which the ratio of zinc to manganese is at least 4:1.

24. The trace elements solution of claim 20, in which the ratio of zinc to copper is at least 2:1 or 4:1.

25. The trace elements solution of claim 20, in which the ratio of zinc to selenium is at least 4:1 or 12:1.

26. The trace elements solution of claim 20, in which at least one of the metals is provided in the form of an ethylene diaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA) complex and/or an ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid (EDDS) complex.

27. The trace elements solution of claim 26, in which the EDTA source is EDTA acid, disodium EDTA, tetra-sodium EDTA, calcium EDTA, potassium EDTA and/or any other EDTA source.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE

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

(2) The example relates to a method to prepare a trace element solution predominantly to be used for cattle and includes the mineral elements zinc, manganese, selenium and copper.

(3) The method enables preparation of 25 liters of the solution containing at least 60 mg Zn, 10 mg Mn, 5 mg Se, and 15 mg Cu per ml.

(4) In a 25 liter plastic container, water is heated to a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius so that the process can proceed at a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

(5) 0.556 Kilogram of manganese carbonate is added to the heated water whilst mixing.

(6) 1.890 Kilogram of zinc oxide is added to the mixture.

(7) 0.700 Kilogram of copper carbonate is added to the mixture slowly to form a liquid mixture.

(8) In a separate container 10.17 kilogram EDTA and 2.70 kilogram of NaOH are mixed to form a dry mixture.

(9) The dry mixture is slowly added to the liquid mixture to prevent excessive frothing and allow the reaction to complete and to leave a clear blue solution.

(10) The temperature of the solution may reach 100 degrees Celsius and is allowed to cool to 50 degrees Celsius.

(11) 26.25 g of Chloro-cresol is added to the solution and is stirred until dissolved.

(12) The solution is then cooled to room temperature.

(13) The recorded pH of the solution is now 4.656.

(14) 0.303 Kilogram of Na.sub.2SeO.sub.3 is added.

(15) The recorded pH of the solution is now 5.115.

(16) The pH is adjusted to 6.860 by adding a 50% NaOH solution.

(17) The solution is now diluted with water to obtain the required weight, namely 1.300 kg/l.

(18) The resultant trace element solution has a composition as follows: (a) 60 mg/ml of zinc; (b) 10 mg/ml manganese; (c) 5 mg/ml selenium; and (d) 15 mg/ml copper.

(19) 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 zinc, manganese, selenium and copper and at a concentration of the metals of at least 90 mg/ml.

(20) The trace elements in solution are in a scientifically formulated ratio according to the post-absorption requirements of the animals.

(21) As an example the trace element solution comprises (a) at least 60 mg/ml of zinc; (b) at least 10 mg/ml manganese; (c) at least 5 mg/ml selenium; and (d) at least 15 mg/ml copper.

(22) The solution may furthermore comprise at least 5 mg/ml chromium and at least 50-300 mg/ml iodine.

(23) 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 milliliter injection can make a significant impact on the trace mineral status of the animal and an injection is provided at a rate of between 1 ml per 50 kg bodyweight (BW) and 1 ml per 100 kg BW, 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. The subcutaneous injection is the preferred route to minimize tissue damage, but intra-muscular injection can also be used.