Effects of zinc sources and levels of zinc amino acid complex on growth performance, hematological and biochemical parameters in weanling pigs

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to investigate the effects of zinc amino acid complex (ZnAA) on growth performance, hematological and biochemical parameters in weanling pigs.MethodsIn Exp. 1, a total of 216 Duroc×Landrace×Large White weanling pigs were assigned randomly to 6 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 6 replicates (pens) with 6 pigs each. The diets were corn-soybean meal based with supplementation of 0, 20, 40, 80, 120 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA or 40 mg Zn/kg from feed-grade zinc sulfate. The experiment lasted 42 days. In Exp. 2, a total of 180 weanling pigs were assigned randomly to 3 dietary treatments supplemented with 0, 80, or 800 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA.ResultsIn Exp. 1, pigs fed 40 to 80 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA had higher (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) than the unsupplemented group during d 0 to 14. During d 0 to 42, the pigs fed 20 to 120 mg Zn/kg from ZnAA had increased (p<0.05) ADG. Pigs fed 20 to 120 mg/kg Zn from ZnAA had lower feed:gain (p<0.05), increased the activity of serum Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase on d 14, and increased serum Zn levels on d 42 (p<0.05). In Exp. 2, pigs fed diets with 800 mg Zn/kg had increased average daily feed intake during d 15 to 28 (p<0.05) compared to the unsupplemented group. During d 0 to 28, the pigs fed supplemental Zn had increased ADG (p<0.05). On d 14 and d 28, pigs fed supplemental Zn had higher the serum alkaline phosphatase activities (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the hematological parameters and organ indices.ConclusionSupplementation with 20 to 80 mg/kg Zn from ZnAA improved the growth performance in weaned pigs. The piglets can tolerate up to 800 mg/kg Zn from ZnAA with limited potential health effects.

Zinc Supplementation Forms Influenced Zinc Absorption and Accumulation in Piglets

“…Research evidence has indicated that organic Zn sources is recommended widely in animals because of their higher bioavailability than inorganic Zn [ 7 , 8 ]. Xie et al [ 9 ] reported that piglets with body weight of 11 kg fed diet supplemented with a lower dose of Zn-Met replacing 100 mg/kg ZnSO 4 had no negative effects on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and serum metabolites, and indeed, supplementing 50 mg ZnSO 4 plus 25 mg Zn-Met to piglets exerted the beneficial effects of Zn digestibility and immune functions.…”

New challenges for efficient usage of Sargassum fusiforme for ruminant production

“…An abundance of essential trace minerals, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu), are also important for the maintenance of normal physiological functions in the body 12 . Trace minerals help to regulate the activities of biochemical processes and compounds in the body, such as transcription factors, growth factors, enzymes, and molecules that are important for the immune response, but are also needed for optimum health and productivity 13,14 . According to one study 15 , S. fusiforme contains iodine (average, 151.5 ± 1.03 mg•kg −1 as-raw) and the amount of iodine it contains falls within a range that makes it safe to consume without causing health issues in ruminants 16 .…”

Zinc in Dog Nutrition, Health and Disease: A Review

“…There are four classes of SOD, iron SOD (FeSOD), manganese SOD (MnSOD), copper-zinc SOD (Cu/ZnSOD), and nickel SOD (NiSOD), being Cu/ZnSOD, the most abundant in the cytosol and extracellular space [ 56 ]. The activity of plasmatic Cu/ZnSOD was already used as a zinc biomarker, for instance, in pigs [ 57 ], showing differences between supplemented and unsupplemented diets, but not within levels of supplementation. In dogs, Cu/ZnSOD was not different when adequate levels of two zinc sources, with presumably different bioavailability, were supplemented [ 13 ], which seems to agree with the previous study in which the biomarker was not effective in marginal deficiencies and optimum zinc status.…”

“…Alkaline phosphatase, a dimeric zinc-containing phosphomonoesterase that hydrolyzes phosphate monoesters, is widely distributed in plasma and mammalian tissues, including intestines, kidneys, placenta, and bones [ 58 ]. Serum alkaline phosphatase concentration in lambs and pigs has been reported to be affected by dietary zinc levels [ 57 , 59 ], but no differences were found when broilers were fed diets without or with zinc supplementation [ 60 ]. In puppies, total alkaline phosphatase was higher when dogs were fed a diet supplemented with a high level (150 mg/kg) of a more bioavailable zinc source, in comparison to a low level (50 mg/kg); however, no differences were seen in the alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme profile (cortisol, liver or bone) [ 12 ].…”