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Article: Lower zinc levels possible in nursery pigs with organic zinc. (Bottom Line of Nutrition/Swine).(zinc and zinc oxide shown to increase growth of newborn hogs)(Illustration)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
- Article from:
- Feedstuffs
- Article date:
- August 26, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 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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It has become routine in the swine industry to add high concentrations (2,000-3,000 parts per million) of zinc from zinc oxide to nursery diets for two to four weeks postweaning to decrease the incidence of nonspecific postweaning scours and as a growth promotant.
The use of high concentrations of inorganic zinc has raised some environmental concerns due to low zinc retention rates and bioavailability of zinc oxide. Interest in using organic trace minerals has increased because of the reported potential of higher bioavail-ability than from inorganic mineral sources.
The biological mechanism behind the enhanced growth performance is unknown. One research ...