S T A R L Y N E

MINERALS	METABOLIC FUNCTION	SYMPTOM OF DEFICICENCY
CALCIUM	99% of body total calcium in bones and teeth. Also in body fluids - required for normal functioning of nerves and muscles. Calcium is closely associated with Phosphorus and Vitamin D.	Bone malformations Rickets in young animals, ostemalicia in older animals Milk Fever In early lactation when increased calcium requirements cannot be met.
PHOSPHORUS	80% of body total is associated with bones and teeth. Also involved with normal carbohydrate and energy metabolism.	Bone malformations Rickets, osteomalacia, stiff joints and muscular weakness. Poor fertility. Reduced milk yields and growth rates. Pica - depraved appetite.
MAGNESIUM	70% of body total associated with calcium and phosphorus in bones and teeth. Also involved with many vital enzyme systems and the normal functioning of the nervous system.	Hypomagnesaemia Clinical - grass staggers Sub-Clinical - reduced appetite, reduced milk yields, reduced growth rates, reduced fertility and increased incidence of milk fever.
SALT	Involved in the regulation of body fluids.	Declining appetites causing reduced growth rates and milk yields. Urine licking.
COPPER	Component of red blood cells and many enzyme systems. Involved in the pigmentation of hair and wool.	'Swayback' in lambs 'Brown Coat' and 'Spectacles' around the eyes. Also reduced growth, infertility, scouring, poor wool crimp, anaemia and death. (Beware of COPPER TOXICITY IN SHEEP)
COBALT	Required for the synthesis of Vitamin B12 by rumen microbes. Also involved with specific enzyme systems.	'Pining' - reduced appetite leading to a progressive loss of bodyweight, listlessness and death.
IODINE	Constituent of thyroxine, the hormone produced by the thyroid gland.	'Goitre' enlargement of thyroid gland. Reproductive Problems - reduced fertility, discharging cows, increased abortions and retained placentae.
IRON	Constituent of blood haemoglobin and other proteins. Also involved with several enzyme systems.	Anaemia particularly in suckling animals. Reduced growth rates.
MANGANESE	Mainly associated with enzyme systems and required for normal bone formation, muscular development and reproduction.	Reduced fertility and frequent abortion. Reduced growth and leg deformities.
ZINC	Constituent of body tissues, such as skin and several enzymes.	Reduced growth due to depressed appetite and poor feed conversion. Lameness - possible involvement with ruminants. Parakeratosis skin problems in pigs
SELENIUM	Involved with the normal functioning of muscle and organs such as the liver closely associated with Vitamin E in protecting cells from oxidative damage.	Muscle degeneration. White muscle disease - causing stiff gait and arched back. Retained placenta. Reduced fertility, cystic ovaries, mastitis problems.
VITAMINS	METABOLIC FUNCTION	SYMPTOM OF DEFICICENCY
VITAMIN A	Required for normal vision. Also involved with development of bones and membranes.	Blindness, rough hair and scaly skin. Reproductive problems - infertility and abortion. Bone malformations, reduced growth and scouring.
VITAMIN D	Closely related to the metabolic function of calcium, including its absorption, deposition into bones and re-absorption from bone.	Bone malformations. Poor growth rates.
VITAMIN E	Associated with fat metabolism and other tissue functions. Metabolic function is closely related to selenium.	Muscular degeneration. White muscular disease causing stiff gait and arched back. Retained placenta. Reduced fertility.
VITAMIN B12	Contains cobalt in centre of molecule. Involved with several essential enzyme systems.	Anaemia 'Pining' - reduced appetite leading to a progressive loss of bodyweight, listlessness and death.