News from the Midwest Sectional Meetings, March 16-18, 1998, Des Moines, Iowa
Contact:
Marcia Carlson, University of Missouri (573) 882-7859
Joe Marks, (573) 882-6546
Zinc helps weanling pigs, MU specialist reports
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Zinc helps weanling pigs grow better. And now scientists know what keeps the pigs from getting too much of a good thing.
It's metallothionein, a naturally occurring protein in pigs and humans that regulates zinc and copper uptake.
Research by Marcia Carlson, extension swine nutrition specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia, shows that metallothionein in the gut binds up excess zinc and prevents toxic effects of zinc excesses. Metallothionein also helps the pig that isn't getting enough zinc.
"If you aren't getting enough zinc, the protein metabolizes zinc from the liver and other sources," Carlson said. She reported the results of her Ph.D. research this week to the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Sciences.
She said pigs should be fed supplemental zinc (3,000 ppm zinc oxide) at least the first two weeks after weaning.
"After two weeks, the pig is zinc-loaded," she said. "Any more will just go out in the feces.
"Also, after two weeks, producers change the weanling pig's diet anyway, so that's an easy time to drop the zinc supplement."Carlson said zinc regenerates the pig's intestine and helps it absorb nutrients.
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On Internet at: http://etcs.ext.missouri.edu/agebb/news. On the Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board in the Columbia dialing area at (573)882-8289 or at 1-800-862-4322 outside Columbia. Voice assistance for AgEBB at (573)882-4827.