Copper chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine

What it is. Copper chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine: a solid-state additive obtained by complexing copper with (2-hydroxy-4-methylthio) butanoic acid. It contains a minimum of 16% copper and a minimum of 78% of this hydroxylated methionine analogue acid.

What it is for. This additive belongs to the functional group of trace element compounds and provides copper in chelated form, authorised for all animal species. Chelation aims to improve copper bioavailability compared with inorganic sources. It is incorporated into feed as a premixture, usable in formulation to meet copper nutritional requirements according to species and physiological stage.

Points to watch. Total copper content of the diet must comply with regulatory maximums that vary widely by species and stage: for example 15 mg/kg in bovines before rumination and in sheep, 30 mg/kg for other bovines, 35 mg/kg in goats, up to 150 mg/kg in unweaned or recently weaned piglets then 100 mg/kg afterwards, 50 mg/kg in crustaceans and 25 mg/kg for other animals. The maximum nickel content is set at 20 ppm. Specific labelling is required for feed intended for sheep (poisoning risk above 10 mg/kg copper) and for certain bovine feed after rumination with low copper content. Personal protective equipment (respiratory, eye, skin) is required if risks cannot be eliminated through operational procedures.