History of Zinc in Agriculture

Abstract

Zinc was established as essential for green plants in 1926 and for mammals in 1934. However, >20 y would pass before the first descriptions of zinc deficiencies in farm animals appeared. In 1955, it was reported that zinc supplementation would cure parakeratosis in swine. In 1958, it was reported that zinc deficiency induced poor growth, leg abnormalities, poor feathering, and parakeratosis in chicks. In the 1960s, zinc supplementation was found to alleviate parakeratosis in grazing cattle and sheep. Within 35 y, it was established that nearly one half of the soils in the world may be zinc deficient, causing decreased plant zinc content and production that can be prevented by zinc fertilization. In many of these areas, zinc deficiency is prevented in grazing livestock by zinc fertilization of pastures or by providing salt licks. For livestock under more defined conditions, such as poultry, swine, and dairy and finishing cattle, feeds are easily supplemented with zinc salts to prevent deficiency. Today, the causes and consequences of zinc deficiency and methods and effects of overcoming the deficiency are well established for agriculture. The history of zinc in agriculture is an outstanding demonstration of the translation of research into practical application.

Co-selection of antibiotic and metal(loid) resistance in gram-negative epiphytic bacteria from contaminated salt marshes

“…Additionally, this study exposes plant surfaces as a niche where selection of antibiotic resistance by metal(loid)s is probable to occur. This is of concern since the frequent use of metals in animal feeding (Nielsen, 2012) may result in soil contamination through manure application and, consequently, on the selection of antibiotic resistance in crops. …”

Influence of Zinc Feeding on Nutritional Quality, Oxidative Stability and Volatile Profile of Fresh and Ripened Ewes’ Milk Cheese

“…In many of these areas, where grazing livestock is widespread, zinc 2 of 12 deficiency is prevented by zinc fertilization of pastures. For livestock under more defined conditions, such as poultry, swine, and dairy cattle, feeds are enriched with zinc salts to prevent deficiency [3]. The essentiality of Zn in livestock nutrition is well established, for this reason several feeding strategies have been tested over time to ensure the adequate dietary intake of all the necessary trace elements.…”

Occurrence Of The Co-Selection Phenomenon In Non-Clinical Environments

“…Dodawane do pasz, wykazują działanie bakteriobójcze, grzybobójcze i wzmacniają odporność zwierząt. Tlenek cynku ZnO był niegdyś stosowany profilaktycznie w hodowli prosiąt jako alternatywa dla antybiotyków i w celu uzyskania szybkiego przyrostu masy mięśniowej oraz prawidłowego rozwoju układu nerwowego [70]. Dodatkowo, cynk wykazywał działanie przeciwbiegunkowe.…”