MINTREX® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals: Fully Active Molecules 

As any dairy farmer knows, the key to profitability isn’t just producing more milk—it’s about producing more milk more efficiently. That means giving cows precisely what they need to thrive at every stage of lactation. Enter MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals, an innovative nutritional supplement that stands apart in the trace mineral market by offering a fully active molecule.

What Makes MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals Fully Active Molecules?

MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals aren’t your average organic trace mineral supplement. At its core is a metal methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, combining two molecules of HMTBa (hydroxy-methyl-thio-butyric acid; a methionine analog) with a central metal—either zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), or manganese (Mn). This chelation and dual function are what sets MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals apart: it doesn’t just supply premium organic trace minerals, it also delivers a source of HMTBa, essential for optimizing dairy cow performance.

The “fully active” nature of MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals means that both the trace mineral and the ligand (HMTBa) provide distinct benefits to the cow. This synergy supports improved bioavailability and absorption, better rumen health, and maximized animal performance

HMTBa vs. Methionine

To understand the advantages of MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals, it’s important to identify how HMTBa differs from other methionine sources. Unlike methionine, HMTBa has a hydroxyl group instead of an amine group, making it a strong organic acid and giving the HMTBa distinct absorption and metabolic pathways.

One of the biggest challenges with methionine delivery is ensuring it survives the rumen. MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals address this with the powerful advantage of a 54% ruminal bypass (NOVUS Internal Studies: 501IGZ010067, R03OGZ011010, R03IGZ012022, R03OGZ013008). This high bypass rate is due to the bis-chelate structure that protects HMTBa from ruminal degradation, ensuring effective absorption.

MINTREX^® Trace Minerals in Action

What does this mean for your cows? One of the most tangible benefits of the HMTBa ligands is improved milk fat yield. A 2018 study by Tucker and Vasquez-Anon found that cows supplemented with MINTREX^® Zn, Cu, and Mn produced 12.4 grams more milk fat per head per day compared to those fed a blend of zinc-methionine, manganese-methionine, and copper lysine. This effect is a direct reflection of HMTBa’s function as a rumen modifier, optimizing fermentation and supporting higher energy availability for milk fat production.

Other studies have shown on farm improvements in reproduction (Zanton et al., 2011; Bach et al., 2015) and immunity (Nemec et al., 2012; Zhao et al., 2015; Yasui et al., 2019), lower lameness and reduced risk of culling due to lameness (Bach et al., 2015; Zhao et al., 2015), and greater overall production efficiency. This is all attributable to the zinc, copper, and manganese activity of MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals.

Economic Value and Strategic Use

So, how can dairy farmers make the most of MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals?

The key is to identify your goals for your farm. Whether you’re aiming to optimize milk components, enhance reproductive performance, lower lameness, or improve overall animal durability and resilience, MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals have a role.

MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals offers a powerful and efficient approach to meeting the dual demands of HMTBa supplementation and trace mineral nutrition. Its unique structure not only protects valuable nutrients through the rumen but also ensures they reach their destination, positively impacting animal performance.

The impact on animal performance and additional methionine value allows for reduced supplementation cost. For dairy farmers looking to invest in smarter nutrition strategies, MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals represent a science-backed solution with proven benefits.

Interested in incorporating MINTREX^® Bis-chelated Trace Minerals into your herd’s ration? Work with your nutritionist or a NOVUS representative to develop a plan tailored to your operation’s unique goals.

References:

Bach, A., A. Pinto, and M. Blanch. 2015. Association between chelated trace mineral supplementation and milk yield, reproductive performance, and lameness in dairy cattle. Liv. Sci. 182:69-75. Doi:10.1016/j/livsci.2015.10.023.

Nemec, L.M., Richards,J.D., Atwell,C.A., Diaz,D.E., Zanton,G.I., Gressley,T.F. 2012. Immune responses in lactating Holstein cows supplemented with Cu, Mn, and Zn as sulfates or methionine hydroxy analogue chelates. J.DairySci. 95, 4568–4577. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030212004468

Tucker, H and M. Vázquez Añón. 2018. Altering Source of Organic Trace Minerals Improves Milk Fat in Commercial Dairy. Journal of Dairy & Veterinary Sciences. 8. doi:10.19080/jdvs.2018.08.555732.

Yasui, T., R. M. Ehrhardt, G. R. Bowman, M. Vázquez-Añon, J. D. Richards, C. A. Atwell and T. R. Overton. 2019. Effects of trace mineral amount and source on aspects of oxidative metabolism and responses to intramammary lipopolysaccharide challenge in midlactation dairy cows. Animal Consortium (2019), 13:5, pp 1000–1008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118002525

Zanton, G. I., D. E. Diaz, M. Vazquez-Anon, and J. E. Nocek. 2011. Form of trace mineral supplementation on complete lactation performance, reproduction, and locomotion in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci. 94: 123 (Abstract).

Zhao, X.J., Z.P. Li, J.H. Wang, X.M. Xing, Z.Y. Wang, L. Wang, and Z.H. Wang. 2015. Effects of chelated Zn/Cu/Mn on redox status, immune responses and hoof health in lactating Holstein cows. J. Vet. Sci. 16: 439-446. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2015.16.4.439