Physiological roles and importance of micronutrients in animal health and production

Micronutrients, including vitamins and trace minerals, are indispensable components of animal nutrition, required in minute quantities yet essential for sustaining health, productivity, and physiological efficiency. They play critical roles as coenzymes, antioxidants, and regulators of metabolic and biochemical processes, contributing to oxygen transport, enzymatic reactions, immune function, skeletal integrity, and reproductive performance. Adequate micronutrient nutrition supports normal growth, efficient feed utilization, metabolic homeostasis, and resistance to disease. Imbalances or deficiencies of key trace minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, selenium, manganese, cobalt, and iodine, as well as vitamins A, D, E, K, B-complex, and C, can result in anemia, impaired immunity, skeletal abnormalities, reproductive disorders, reduced growth, and lowered productivity. Consequently, precise formulation and balanced supplementation of micronutrients are essential to optimize animal performance, maintain health, and enhance the economic and sustainability outcomes of livestock production systems.