Journal of Animal Science, Vol 77, Issue 5 1199-1207, Copyright © 1999 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Early- and traditionally weaned nursery pigs benefit from phase-feeding pharmacological concentrations of zinc oxide: effect on metallothionein and mineral concentrations

M. S. Carlson, G. M. Hill and J. E. Link
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.

Benefits of feeding pharmacological concentrations of zinc (Zn) provided by Zn oxide (ZnO) to 21-d conventionally weaned pigs in the nursery have been documented; however, several management questions remain. We conducted two experiments to evaluate the effect on growth from feeding 3,000 ppm Zn as ZnO during different weeks of the nursery period. In Exp. 1 (n = 138, 11.5 d of age, 3.8 kg BW) and Exp. 2 (n = 246, 24.5 d of age, 7.2 kg BW), pigs were fed either basal diets containing 100 ppm supplemental Zn (adequate) or the same diet with an additional 3,000 ppm Zn (high) supplied as ZnO. Pigs were fed four or two dietary phases in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, that changed in dietary ingredients and nutrient content (lysine and crude protein) to meet the changing physiological needs of the pigs for the 28-d nursery period. Dietary Zn treatments were 1) adequate Zn fed wk 1 to 4, 2) high Zn fed wk 1, 3) high Zn fed wk 2, 4) high Zn fed wk 1 and 2, 5) high Zn fed wk 2 and 3, and 6) high Zn fed wk 1 to 4. In Exp. 1 and 2, pigs fed high Zn for wk 1 and 2 or the entire 28-d nursery period had the greatest (P < .05) ADG. During any week, pigs fed high Zn had greater concentrations of hepatic metallothionein and Zn in plasma, liver, and kidney than those pigs fed adequate Zn (P < .05). In summary, both early- and traditionally weaned pigs need to be fed pharmacological concentrations of Zn provided as ZnO for a minimum of 2 wk immediately after weaning to enhance growth.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Castillo, S. M. Martin-Orue, J. A. Taylor-Pickard, J. F. Perez, and J. Gasa Use of mannanoligosaccharides and zinc chelate as growth promoters and diarrhea preventative in weaning pigs: Effects on microbiota and gut function J Anim Sci, January 1, 2008; 86(1): 94 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Li, J. Yin, D. Li, X. Chen, J. Zang, and X. Zhou Dietary Supplementation with Zinc Oxide Increases IGF-I and IGF-I Receptor Gene Expression in the Small Intestine of Weanling Piglets J. Nutr., July 1, 2006; 136(7): 1786 - 1791. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Dybkjaer, A. P. Jacobsen, F. A. Togersen, and H. D. Poulsen Eating and drinking activity of newly weaned piglets: Effects of individual characteristics, social mixing, and addition of extra zinc to the feed J Anim Sci, March 1, 2006; 84(3): 702 - 711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Rincker, G. M. Hill, J. E. Link, A. M. Meyer, and J. E. Rowntree Effects of dietary zinc and iron supplementation on mineral excretion, body composition, and mineral status of nursery pigs J Anim Sci, December 1, 2005; 83(12): 2762 - 2774. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Buff, D. W. Bollinger, M. R. Ellersieck, W. A. Brommelsiek, and T. L. Veum Comparison of growth performance and zinc absorption, retention, and excretion in weanling pigs fed diets supplemented with zinc-polysaccharide or zinc oxide J Anim Sci, October 1, 2005; 83(10): 2380 - 2386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. R. Hollis, S. D. Carter, T. R. Cline, T. D. Crenshaw, G. L. Cromwell, G. M. Hill, S. W. Kim, A. J. Lewis, D. C. Mahan, P. S. Miller, et al. Effects of replacing pharmacological levels of dietary zinc oxide with lower dietary levels of various organic zinc sources for weanling pigs J Anim Sci, September 1, 2005; 83(9): 2123 - 2129. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Hojberg, N. Canibe, H. D. Poulsen, M. S. Hedemann, and B. B. Jensen Influence of Dietary Zinc Oxide and Copper Sulfate on the Gastrointestinal Ecosystem in Newly Weaned Piglets Appl. Envir. Microbiol., May 1, 2005; 71(5): 2267 - 2277. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Williams, L. L. Southern, and T. D. Bidner Effects of supplemental dietary phytase and pharmacological concentrations of zinc on growth performance and tissue zinc concentrations of weanling pigs J Anim Sci, February 1, 2005; 83(2): 386 - 392. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Rincker, G. M. Hill, J. E. Link, and J. E. Rowntree Effects of dietary iron supplementation on growth performance, hematological status, and whole-body mineral concentrations of nursery pigs J Anim Sci, November 1, 2004; 82(11): 3189 - 3197. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Carlson, C. A. Boren, C. Wu, C. E. Huntington, D. W. Bollinger, and T. L. Veum Evaluation of various inclusion rates of organic zinc either as polysaccharide or proteinate complex on the growth performance, plasma, and excretion of nursery pigs J Anim Sci, May 1, 2004; 82(5): 1359 - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Wright and J. W. Spears Effect of Zinc Source and Dietary Level on Zinc Metabolism in Holstein Calves J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2004; 87(4): 1085 - 1091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Martinez, G. M. Hill, J. E. Link, N. E. Raney, R. J. Tempelman, and C. W. Ernst Pharmacological Zinc and Phytase Supplementation Enhance Metallothionein mRNA Abundance and Protein Concentration in Newly Weaned Pigs J. Nutr., March 1, 2004; 134(3): 538 - 544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Case and M. S. Carlson Effect of feeding organic and inorganic sources of additional zinc on growth performance and zinc balance in nursery pigs J Anim Sci, July 1, 2002; 80(7): 1917 - 1924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]