Increasing zinc via an inorganic source (ZnO) in high calcium finisher dietsimproves growth performance

摘要

Zinc (Zn) is important for protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as it is a component of many enzymes involved in these processes. Because of its role in protein synthesis, Zn is important in the diet of the finisher pig, where fast lean growth is desirable. When formulating pig diets, limestone (CaCOj) is commonly included as a least cost energy diluent, resulting in increased calcium (Ca) levels. However, increasing Ca above 1.5% inclusion can cause a Zn deficiency (Borah et al. 2014) in grower pigs, resulting in parakeratosis. The current study was designed to determine if increasing Zn level using either an organic or an inorganic source, is effective in offsetting any potential negative effects of including high levels of Ca (1%) in finisher diets.