J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1979. 48:1123-1128.
© 1979 American Society of Animal Science
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Effect of Dietary Zinc and Cooper on Performance and Tissue Mineral and Cholesterol Concentrations in Swine1

J. H. Eisemann2, W. G. Pond2,3, and M. L. Thonney2

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine if dietary zinc at 100 or 500 ppm and copper at 8 or 125 ppm would affect growth, tissue Cu and Zn or plasma and liver cholesterol.

Yorkshire pigs 6 to 8 weeks old were fed a practical corn-soybean meal diet incorporating a 2x 2 factorial treatment arrangement of zinc and copper. The experiment began shortly after weaning and continued until the animals reached slaughter weight. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks (slaughter) of the experiment for determination of plasma Zn, Cu and cholesterol concentrations. Liver and kidneys were removed at slaughter for Zn, Cu and cholesterol (liver only) concentrations. Samples of several tissues were saved for histopathologic examination.

Liver and kidney Zn and Cu concentrations reflected dietary Zn and Cu. Plasma Zn also reflected levels fed throughout the experimental period. In contrast, plasma Cu was not altered by diet.

Plasma cholesterol was significantly higher in animals fed the two high Zn diets after 4 weeks of treatment; however, Cu-supplemented animals manifested decreased plasma cholesterol compared to their respective Zn counterparts. Both effects dissipated with time. After 12 weeks of treatment, both a Cux Zn and Znx sex interaction were evident. There was no significant difference in liver cholesterol among dietary treatments and no evidence of tissue atherosclerotic lesions in any of the pigs. It is concluded that there is no evidence for a biologically significant influence of dietary Zn or Cu, at the levels used here, on plasma or liver cholesterol concentrations in the pig.

Footnotes

1 The authors would like to express appreciation to Dr. Lennart Krook for histological examination of tissue samples.

2 Department of Animal Science.

3 Present address: Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933.






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Copyright © 1979 by the American Society of Animal Science.