482 Awardee Talk: Challenges and Opportunities Facing Mineral Nutrition in the Next Decade

Abstract

Abstract The science associated with mineral nutrition is evolving at an accelerated pace. Some topics of investigation have persisted for decades; typical examples include clarification of mineral requirements, evaluation of mineral sources, definition of mineral bioavailability and physiological and metabolic interactions among minerals, to name a few. The fact that these topics have endured for so long serves to illustrate their importance to our craft, as well as the increasing sophistication of the science available to delve more deeply into our understanding of mineral nutrition. Newer topics that involve minerals directly and/or indirectly are attracting increasing attention – and for good reason. As one example, there is a growing body of data pointing to oxidative stress as a relevant issue in modern pork production. As another, the interaction of minerals with fiber has received considerable interest in the past, but recently, the topic has been further elevated by health and environmental concerns. While the above might be considered typical classical nutrition topics, mineral nutrition can also be viewed in a more holistic manner. To what extent is mineral nutrition involved in the observed increase in sow mortality in the past decade? How can and should mineral nutrition be included in precision feeding programs? What further roles of mineral nutrition might be involved in environmental sustainability? Where do we stand on the involvement of mineral nutrition in acid-base balance and does it have greater value in production today than previously considered? This presentation will consider current examples of how mineral nutrition impacts applied swine nutrition as well as overall pork production.