Zinc chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine

What it is. Zinc chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine is a nutritional additive from the trace element compounds group (3b610). It is a solid organic complex combining zinc (17%) with (2-hydroxy-4-methylthio) butanoic acid (79%), a hydroxylated analogue of methionine. It is placed on the market as a premix or as a preparation.

What it is for. This additive is used to cover animals' zinc requirements, across all species, as a complement to conventional mineral sources. The chelated form is generally considered to favour zinc bioavailability compared with inorganic salts. It is incorporated into complete feed via a premix, for all categories and physiological stages.

Points to watch. The maximum authorised total zinc content varies by species: 200 ppm for dogs and cats, 180 ppm for salmonids and milk replacers for calves, 150 ppm for piglets, sows, rabbits and fish other than salmonids, 120 ppm for other species and categories (these values include zinc from all sources). The additive contains nickel, with a maximum content set at 1.7 ppm, requiring protective measures against inhalation and skin or eye contact when handling the additive and premixes.