A Review on the Effects of Micronutrients in Heat Stress Alleviation in Dairy Animals

Abstract

Heat stress from global warming and climate change, which result in an ongoing rise in Earth's temperature, has a detrimental effect on the growth and health of dairy animals. The animal experiences heat stress when it cannot release enough heat to maintain homeothermy. The degree of heat stress dairy animals experience depends on the ambient temperature and humidity. In dairy animals, heat stress reduces feed intake, milk production, reproductive efficiency, and immune function. This article concentrated on the micronutrients that lessen the damaging effects of heat stress on dairy animals. Micronutrients are vital substances that life requires in minute amounts. Major minerals, trace minerals, and vitamins are all included. Micronutrients support the maintenance of animal production, enhance nutrient utilization, effectively combat oxidative stress, and strengthen the weak immune system. Minerals are crucial for maintaining an animal's normal physiological processes. However, it is a belief that animals' reactions to heat stress increase mineral loss through excretion. Therefore, adding minerals to the diet (such as Dietary Cation-Anion Difference, Zinc, Chromium, Selenium, etc.) may help to reduce the harmful effects of heat stress. Vitamins serve as cofactors for enzymes, act as catalysts in a number of metabolic pathways, and are crucial for an animal's normal growth and development. The addition of vitamins (such as Vitamin E, Niacin, etc.) to dairy animals' diets may also help to mitigate the harmful effects of heat stress.