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Article: Excess zinc may help weanling growth regardless of phytase.(Bottom Line of Nutrition/Swine)
- Article from:
- Feedstuffs
- Article date:
- March 28, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Miller Publishing Company, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Zinc is an essential trace mineral in swine diets that plays many significant roles in metabolism as a component of numerous enzymes. Pharmacological levels (i.e., 2,000-3,000 parts per million) of zinc are commonly added to postweaning diets for two to three weeks to increase growth performance and decrease the incidence of scours.
Research results indicate that the improvement in growth performance is generally a result of increased feed intake. Extensive feeding of pharmacological levels of zinc leads to the excretion of excess zinc in the manure, which could be an environmental concern.
Phytate phosphorus constitutes approximately two-thirds of the ...