Growth performance and bone zinc concentration in broiler chickens with dietary supplementation of organic zinc.

1. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Bioplex Zn® (a chelated zinc proteinate) and phytase supplementation in a maize–soybean meal diet on the performance and tissue zinc (Zn) content of broiler chicks. Treatment structure consisted of a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement with two inclusions of phytase (0 or 500 PU/kg) and 6 of Bioplex Zn® providing 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg Zn/kg diet. A total of 864 chicks were randomly assigned to each of 12 dietary treatments with 6 replicate cages of 12 chicks. 2. Dietary inclusion of phytase increased feed intake, weight gain, plasma Zn content, tibia Zn content, tibia and ash weight. 3. Dietary supplementation of Bioplex Zn® linearly increased feed intake, weight gain, gain to feed ratio, plasma Zn concentration, liver Zn concentration, tibia Zn content, tibia and ash weight. 4. An interactive effect of phytase and Bioplex Zn® on feed intake, weight gain, tibia Zn concentration and tibia ash weight was found. 5. One slope, straight broken-line analysis of weight gain regressed on the supplemental Zn level provided as Bioplex Zn® indicated that 12 mg/kg supplemental Zn without phytase and 7·4 mg/kg supplemental Zn with phytase were required for the optimal weight gain of chicks.

The aims of this study was to determine the effect of organic and inorganic Zn and Cu supplements on performance, footpad dermatitis (FPD), carcass characteristics and blood profile in broiler chickens. A total of 336 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were distributed into 24 floor pen and reared for 42 days. A basal mineral premix (without Zn and Cu) was supplemented with organic or inorganic Zn and Cu to meet 100% (i.e., 110 and 16 mg/kg of the mineral premix, respectively) or 50% (i.e., 55 and 8 mg/kg of the mineral premix, respectively) of the recommended levels. Six dietary trace mineral premix were formed with inclusion of 1) inorganic Zn and Cu at the level 100%, 2) organic Zn and Cu at the level 100%, 3) inorganic Zn and Cu at the level 50%, 4) organic Zn and Cu at the level 50%, 5) organic Zn at the level 50% and inorganic Cu at the level 100%, and 6) inorganic Zn at the level 100% and organic Cu at the level 50%. Results indicated that organic Zn and Cu supplementation improved (p < 0.05) body weight gain and feed conversion ratio than inorganic form. However, the incidence and severity of FPD were significantly lower in broilers received only organic Zn and Cu than those of birds under inorganic Zn and Cu at the level 50%. Broilers fed lower level of inorganic Zn and Cu supplement showed the lowest breast yield compared to the other treatments. In contrast to the alkaline phosphatase enzyme, serum cholesterol concentration decreased (p < 0.05) in broiler chickens received organic Zn when compared to the supplementing of inorganic Zn and Cu at the level 50%. The results showed that organic Zn and Cu, as a proper alternative to inorganic forms, are useful to improve performance and health of broilers.

Aim of the present study was to assess the effect of inorganic and organic zinc and copper supplementation on intake, nutrient utilization, performance, feed efficiency and hemato, blood biochemicals of kids. Barbari male kids(60) were randomly divided into 4 equal groups. Control group of kids were supplemented inorganic Zn and Cu (iZniCu), one group had organic Zn and Cu (OrZn-OrCu), while other groups had either inorganic Zn and organic Cu (iZnOrCu), or organic Zn and inorganic Cu (OrZn-iCu). Organic minerals were provided at 0.75 of their inorganic level. Growth, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency was similar in either form or combinations of Cu and Zn supplementation. The kids during 150 days of experimental feeding had live weight gain 8.6 to 8.8 kg and average daily gain 57.0 to 58.8 g. Kids consumed feed dry matter 618 to 710 g/d, which accounted 2.96 to 3.47% of live weight, with feed conversion ratio (kg feed/ kg gain) of 10.4 to 10.6 kg. Intake and digestibility of OM, CP and NDF were also similar among 4 groups. All kids had positive and similar N balance, which ranged from 8.1 to 9.9 g/d. Growing Barbari kids under present feeding protocol consumed 567 g feed and 14.3g nitrogen to have 59 g daily gain. Rumen fermentation characteristics studied at 4 h post feeding revealed that total volatile fatty acid contents were similar among 4 groups, whereas rumen fluid pH was lower and NH3-N was higher in OrCu and iZn fed, and TCA- ppt-protien was lower in OrCu and OrZn fed kids. Supplementation of organic Zn and Cu improved blood hemoglobin. Red and white blood corpuscles (WBC) counts were similar amongst 4 groups, but WBC decreased linearly with progress in feeding period. The lymphocytes, granulocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were similar. Kids fed OrCu and OrZn had lower protein, globulin and blood urea nitrogen content. Plasma Zn and Cu contents did not change, while plasma Fe content reduced in OrZn and Cu supplemented kids. It is concluded that kids may be fed diets with OrZn and Cu at 25% lower level than the required inorganic Zn and Cu during active growth phase without compromising performance. The combination of OrCu and iZn tended to promote feed DM intake per unit BW, reduced rumen fluid pH, and increased NH3-N level.

Trace minerals (TM) supplementation in swine diets can negatively interact with other nutrients. Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) mutually inhibit their intestinal absorption; thus, limiting their bioavailability. Recent peer-reviewed work has suggested that nursery pigs fed a diet supplemented with increased Zn experienced impaired Cu metabolism, negatively impacting growth performance. However, it has been demonstrated that mitigation of antagonisms might be possible with the use of organic TM supplemented at decreased concentrations. To validate these findings, a total of 2,629 pigs [initial body weight (BW) = 6.2 kg] were used in a 37-d experiment. Pens of 36 pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 8 dietary treatments with 9 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were formulated to contain 1 of 4 Zn sources: Zn Sulfate, Zn Hydroxychloride A (Intellibond Zn [Micronutrients Inc., Indianapolis, IN), Zn Hydroxychloride B [Zn Hydroxychloride (Alltech, Inc., Nicholasville, KY)] or Organic Zn [Bioplex Zn (Alltech, Inc)] at 1 of 2 concentrations: 125 or 250 ppm. The concentrations utilized for Organic Zn treatment were 62.5 or 125 ppm per published recommendations. Experimental diets were fed in two phases: phase 1 from d 0 to 21 and phase 2 from d 22 to 37. Added Cu in both dietary phases was 10 ppm. At d 37, serum and liver samples (data not showed) were collected from 1 barrow per pen and submitted to Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to determine Zn and Cu concentration. No significant source × concentration interactions were observed for growth performance in this study. From d 0 to 37, pigs fed the greatest Zn concentration had less (P = 0.040) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and marginally decreased (P = 0.060) average daily gain (ADG), despite Zn source (Table 1). In addition, a marginal improvement (P = 0.070) in gain to feed ratio (G:F) was observed in pigs fed diets containing Organic Zn, regardless of concentration. For mineral concentrations in serum, there was a marginally significant source × concentration interaction (P = 0.078), where pigs fed diets with 125 ppm of Zn Hydroxychloride B had one of the greatest Zn concentrations, yet it was drastically reduced when pigs were fed diets with 250 ppm. Furthermore, Cu concentration in serum was decreased (P = 0.045) in pigs fed the greatest concentration of Zn, despite source. In conclusion, these results suggest that greater dietary Zn concentration impaired Cu absorption, reduced feed intake, and marginally decreased growth. Organic Zn, included at 50% reduced concentrations, marginally improved feed efficiency.

Effect of dietary amounts of inorganic and organic zinc on productive and physiological traits of White Pekin ducks

Eighteen Karan Fries bulls were selected from Artificial Breeding Research Centre, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India and randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 animals each in order to study the effect of inorganic or organic forms of Zn supplementation on feed intake and concentration of Zn, Cu and Ca in various biological samples (blood plasma, semen and hair). All the animals were fed as per NRC (2001) requirements. The animals in control group (T1) were not provided any supplemental Zn while those in groups T2 and T3 were supplemented with zinc sulfate and zinc propionate (27% available Zn) at 40 ppm level, respectively. The intakes of DM and CP were similar in all the groups. The Zn intake was higher (P<0.05) in groups T2 and T3 compared to group T1. The control diet (25.74 ppm Zn) could not fulfill the specified requirement of Zn. The intakes of Cu and Ca were similar in different groups. Supplementation of Zn either in organic or inorganic form resulted in significant (P<0.05) rise in blood and seminal plasma Zn concentration, however, no significant difference was found between two different sources of Zn supplementation. The hair Zn concentration did not change significantly due to Zn supplementation. The relationship between blood plasma Zn and seminal plasma Zn was positive (P<0.01). The supplementation of organic and inorganic Zn at 40 ppm level increased Zn level in the blood and seminal plasma, however, no difference was found between organic and inorganic Zn. Either form of Zn in the diet did not affect plasma Ca and Cu concentration in the crossbred bulls.

Supplementation of feed with organic zinc (Zn) has long been discussed as an alternative to inorganic Zn in pigs, but its effects on growth performance are mixed. This meta-analysis was conducted to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the influence of organic Zn on the growth performance of weanling pigs, on the basis of average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed to gain ratio (F/G). We screened the PubMed and Web of Science databases (published before December 31, 2022; limited to English) systematically and contrasted organic Zn supplementation with inorganic Zn supplementation. There were 680 retrievals of studies, of which 16 (1389 pigs, 37 records) were eligible to analyze. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. The subgroup analysis was classified as organic Zn source (Zn-amino acid (Zn-AA), Zn-glycine (Zn-Gly), Zn-methionine (Zn-Met), Zn-Lysine (Zn-Lys), proteinate complex Zn (Zn-Pro), chitosan-Zn (Zn-CS) or Zn-lactate (Zn-Lac)) and Zn additive dose (low, medium, or high, i.e., lower than, equal to or higher than the requirement of NRC). Organic Zn addition in the weaning phase increased the ADG (P < 0.001) and the ADFI (P = 0.023) and decreased the F/G (P < 0.001). Specifically, for the organic sources, only Zn-CS supplementation presented significant effects on the ADG (P < 0.001), ADFI (P = 0.011), and F/G (P < 0.001). Moreover, medium-dose organic Zn supplementation had positive effects on ADG (P = 0.012), ADFI (P = 0.018), and F/G (P < 0.001). Our results indicate that organic Zn added to diets greatly improves the growth performance of weanling pigs.

This study investigated the potential synergism between hydroxychloride and organic zinc (Zn) at different levels on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. There were seven experimental diets including a negative control diet without any supplemental Zn, and six diets with 80 mg/kg added Zn in the forms of ZnSO4, hydroxychloride Zn (HCZ) and organic Zn (ORZ), and a combination of HCZ and ORZ at 40 mg/kg HCZ + 40 mg/kg ORZ (HCZ40-ORZ40), 55 mg/kg HCZ + 25 mg/kg ORZ (HCZ55-ORZ25), and 70 mg/kg HCZ + 10 mg/kg ORZ (HCZ70-ORZ10). Each diet was replicated eight times with 17 chicks per replicate. On day 35, HCZ70-ORZ10 and HCZ40-ORZ40 diets resulted in the highest body weights (P < 0.05). Throughout the entire production period (1–35 days), all HCZ and ORZ diets significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to PC (P < 0.05), with HCZ40-ORZ40 showing the lowest FCR. Breast meat yield was lower in NC-fed birds, while HCZ80 and HCZ70-ORZ10 groups had the lowest abdominal fat weight (P < 0.05). Liver and gizzard weight, tibia breaking strength, and ash percentage, footpad dermatitis, and hock burns were not affected. Tibia Zn content was higher in HCZ or ORZ-supplemented birds compared to NC (P < 0.05), whereas other minerals in tibia and liver were unaffected. In summary, the absence of supplemental Zn negatively affects growth and carcass characteristics, whereas replacing ZnSO4 with HCZ, ORZ, or their combinations improves bodyweight and FCR. HCZ70-ORZ10 and HCZ40-ORZ40 were identified as optimal combinations for maximizing feed efficiency.

Influence of dietary zinc on the claw and interdigital skin of sheep

Determination of optimal dietary calcium levels under different zinc sources in Jing Tint 6 layer chicks from hatch to day 14.

Eighteen buffalo heifers (261.1±11.6 kg) were randomly allotted to 3 dietary groups in a completely randomized design to determine the effect of organic and inorganic Zn combinations on antioxidant status, blood biochemistry and immune response. The concentrate mixture was supplemented with 80 ppm Zn, supplied from 100% ZnSO4 (100 I-0 O, control), 75% Zn from ZnSO4 and 25% from Zn Proteinate (ZnProt, 75 I-25 O) and 50% from ZnSO4 and 50% as ZnProt (50 I-50 O) up to 90 days of experiment. The humoral immune response was assessed against Brucella abortus S19 and chicken RBC antigens by administering suitable doses on 60th d with a booster dose after 15 days and antibody titres against these antigens were measured by standard tube agglutination test and direct haemagglutination test, respectively in serum collected at 8, 15, 22 and 29 d post sensitization. At the end of experiment, cell mediated immune response was determined by in vivo delayed type hyper sensitivity reaction against phytohaemagglutinin-P. Lipid peroxidation and glutathione peroxidase activity was comparable among the three dietary groups while RBC-catalase activity was higher in organic Zn combination groups compared to the 100% inorganic Zn supplemental group. The levels of alkaline phosphatase activity, serum glucose, cholesterol, serum total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin: globulin ratio and serum Zn in heifers of groups 100 I-0 O, 75 I-25 O and 50 I-50 O were comparable. The humoral immune response against both the antigens was not affected with replacement of inorganic with organic Zn source. The cell mediated immune response was higher (P<0.05) with inclusion of ZnProt replacing 25 or 50% of ZnSO4. The results indicated that supplementing 80 ppm Zn in diets as combinations of inorganic and organic Zn in ratio of 75: 25 or 50: 50 had no effect on biochemical constituents and humoral immune response in buffalo heifers. The cell mediated immune response and RBC-catalase activity improved with replacing inorganic Zn with organic Zn by 25%.

No indications that zinc and protein source affect Zn bioavailability in sows during late gestation fed adequate dietary Zn concentrations

A 2X4 factorial design experiment was performed including two sources of zinc (inorganic or organic). The inorganic Zn was provided as zinc oxide 72% and organic Zn was provided as Bioplex Zn, a chelated Zn proteinate that contained 10% Zn (Bioplex, Alltech Inc). The inorganic or organic zinc were added to the basal diet containing 22.21 mg zinc /Kg diet completed to 35(NRC, 1994), 70, 105 and 140 mg Zn / Kg diet. A total number of 240 laying hens and 24 cocks of Inshas strain (local strain) of 24 weeks old was used to study the effect of sources and levels of Zn addition to birds rations on their productive performance, reproductive traits, immune response to SRBC and economic efficiency. Birds were randomly distributed into eight equal groups (30 hens and 3 cocks each). Each group was subdivided into three replicates (10 hens and 1 cocks each) laying hens of each group nearly equal in average body weight (1430.55± 19.95) and average daily egg production. The experiment period extended from 24 to 36 weeks of age, during hot summer season (from June to September, 2008). The average minimum and maximum ambient temperatures ranged between 23.6 and 34.7 0C, relative humidity from 31.8 to 80.7% and temperature-humidity index (THI) from 21.64 to 33.52% underInshas, Sharkia Province, Egypt. Results obtained showed that feed conversion, egg production% , egg mass )24 - 28 weeks of age(, semen ejaculate volume (ml), percentages of sperm motility and sperm-cell concentration and antibody titer against SRBC’S were improved significantly (P<0.05) ,while dead spermatozoa(%) were decreased significantly (P<0.05) for birds fed diets contained organic zinc as compared to those fed zinc oxide. Laying hens fed diets contained 105 mg Zn/Kg diet recorded best values of feed conversion, egg production(%), egg mass, fertile eggs (%), hatchability/total eggs (%) and hatchability/ fertile eggs (%) values while the lowest values were recorded with layers fed diets containing 35 mg Zn oxide /Kg diet. Inshas cocks fed 105 mg Bioplex Zn / Kg diet showed the highest sperm cell concentration and lowest in dead sperm percentages as compared with other treatment groups which, improved the positive and direct effect on the viability of sperm and consequently affect the rate of cock fertility. Heamoglobin, serum zinc and yolk zinc were higher (al most significantly) for layers fed diets contained at levels 105 or 140 Zn mg/ Kg as compared with those fed other levels of Zn at the end of experimental period. Generally, zinc from Bioplex Zn improved titer against SRBC’S better than zinc from Zn oxide. In conclusion, diets supplemented with organic zinc at the level of 105 mg Zn/ Kg diet improved most physiological productive and reproductive traits of Inshas strain under hot summer condition in Egypt.

Effects of feeding different forms of zinc and copper on the performance and tissue mineral content of chicks

Effect of dietary supplementation of organic or inorganic zinc on carbonic anhydrase activity in eggshell formation and quality of aged laying hens