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Comparison of Dietary Zinc Levels for Reproducing Sows and the Effect of Dietary Zinc and Calcium on the Subsequent Performance of their Progeny¹

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University^,4, Blacksburg 24061 and Holland 23391

² Department of Animal Science. Requests for reprints should be directed to Dr. E. T. Kornegay.

Abstract

Dietary zinc levels of 33 and 83 ppm were compared for breeding swine housed in total confinement and fed a 15% protein fortified corn-soybean meal diet at an average level of 1.8 kg during gestation and 4.5 kg during lactation for five parities. Diet did not significantly affect the number of pigs farrowed and weaned, average birth and weaning weight and the zinc content of baby pig testes, spleen, kidney and serum. Sow serum zinc levels at farrowing and the liver and femur zinc content from pigs at the fourth and fifth parity were higher (P<.05) when sows were fed the high-zinc diet with a trend (P<.10) for higher zinc content of the sow hair and baby pig coccygeal.

Progeny from the fourth and fifth parities of the low- and high-zinc fed sows were fed dietary zinc levels of 33 and 83 ppm and dietary calcium levels of .8 and 1.4% (lowered at 18 and 45 kg body weight). Average daily gain and feed intake were greater (P<.05) for pigs fed high-zinc diets; whereas, daily gain and feed efficiency were less (P<.01) for pigs fed high-calcium diets. Up to 45 kg, pigs from high-zinc fed sows had larger (P<.05) gains and feed intakes. Serum and hair zinc levels were increased (P<.01) and hair calcium level was decreased (P<.05) by high-zinc diets. Serum calcium levels were increased (P<.01) by high-calcium diets. Hair zinc content was higher (P<.01) for pigs from high-zinc fed sows.

Although reproductive performance was not significantly affected by the level of zinc fed in this study, the progeny of sows fed 33 ppm zinc appeared not to have the necessary body stores of zinc for optimum growth. Based on the results of this study, additional zinc should be added to conventional diets for breeding female swine.

¹ Present address: Feed Research Division, Central Soya, Decatur, Ind. 46733

³ Tidewater Research and Continuing Education Center.

⁴ Appreciation is expressed to Mr. Charles Babb for caring for animals, to Mrs. Carole Shipp and Mrs. Helen Bartlett for analytical analysis, to Dr. Keith Libke for histological work, to Dr. C. Y. Kramer for statistical analysis and to the Virginia Pork Industry Commission for financial support.