PSVIII-14 Zinc Oxide Augments Early Nursery Pig Feed Intake. (12th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Mille, Carson M; Burrough, Eric R; Gabler, Nicholas K
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 100(2022)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 184
• Page End: 185
• Publication Date: 2022-04-12
• Subjects: feed intake -- pig -- zinc oxide; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac064.312
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: Pharmacological concentrations of zinc (Zn) are commonly fed in the nursery to benefit early post-weaning performance and reduces scours. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effect of pharmacological Zn on post-weaning pig daily feed intake and performance. Three-hundred weaned pigs (5.7 ± 1.03 kg BW) were selected and allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments (n = 10 pens/treatment, 10 pigs/pen). Diets were fed over 2 phases (phase 1: d 0-7, phase 2: d 8-21) and consisted of: 1) Control diet with no growth promoting additives, CON; 2) CON + 3, 000 ppm Zn and 200 ppm Cu (phase 1), no pharmacological minerals in phase 2, ZC1; and 3) CON + 3, 000 ppm Zn and 200 ppm Cu (phase 1), CON + 2, 000 ppm Zn and 200 ppm Cu (phase 2); ZC2). Bodyweights were collected at d 0, 7, and 21. Feed disappearance was recorded daily from d 0-14, and within phase. In phase 1, ZC1 and ZC2 pigs had 29% greater feed consumption compared with the CON pigs (0.09, 0.09, 0.07 kg/d; P < 0.0001). Within 2 d of phase 2 diet change, feed intake of the ZC1 pigs sharply decreased to the same level of the CON pigs, while ZC2 pigs consumed 29% more ( P < 0.05). In phase 1, ZC1 and ZC2 pens had increased ADG compared with CON pigs ( P < 0.001). In phase 2, ADG was 14% greater in the ZC2 compared with ZC1 and CON pigs ( P = 0.023). Overall, ADG was 15% greater in the ZC2 pigs and ADFI was 13 and 24% higher than ZC1 and CON pens, respectively ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, early post-weaning feed intake was augmented with pharmacological levels of Zn. These data suggest that pharmacological Zn potentially enhances voluntary feed intake regulation in pigs.