How to translate text using browser tools
27 January 2025 Growing–finishing pigs do not need additional zinc in a phytase-supplemented wheat–barley–soybean meal-based diet
Tina Skau Nielsen, Sally Veronika Hansen, Tofuko Awori Woyengo
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Focus remains on reducing the excretion of surplus zinc (Zn) from pigs through manure due to environmental and public health concerns. Growing–finishing pigs may need less dietary Zn than current EU legislation allows and what is typically applied on farms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three dietary Zn levels on productivity, Zn homeostasis, and health status in growing pigs fed a grain and soybean meal-based diet with a high inclusion of phytase (1000 phytase units). Ninety pigs were offered a diet with 1431 and 83 ppm total Zn from weeks 0–2 and 2–6 post-weaning, respectively, followed by one of three dietary Zn levels (31 (unsupplemented), 69, or 102 ppm total Zn, n = 30/Zn level) from weeks 6–16 post-weaning (30–110 kg). Productivity and health were unaffected by dietary Zn level. Despite differences in serum Zn according to dietary Zn level in week 10, serum Zn remained above the assumed sufficient level following all dietary Zn levels through the experiment. No signs of parakeratosis were observed, and we conclude that growing–finishing pigs produce and stay healthy without added Zn to a phytase supplemented grain–soybean meal-based diet when optimal dietary Zn levels are applied up to 30 kg.

Tina Skau Nielsen, Sally Veronika Hansen, and Tofuko Awori Woyengo "Growing–finishing pigs do not need additional zinc in a phytase-supplemented wheat–barley–soybean meal-based diet," Canadian Journal of Animal Science 105(1), 1-7, (27 January 2025). https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2024-0070
Received: 12 June 2024; Accepted: 1 August 2024; Published: 27 January 2025
JOURNAL ARTICLE
7 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
diarrhea
growth performance
mineral
parakeratosis
phytase
serum zinc status
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top