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Optimum levels of zinc in the diets of pigs in the tropics as influenced by the addition of graded levels of lard
Author(s) -
Babatunde G. M.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740230114
Subject(s) - zinc , factorial experiment , feed conversion ratio , biology , zoology , food science , parakeratosis , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , body weight , mathematics , statistics , organic chemistry , endocrinology , anatomy
Two feeding trials were carried out, the first to establish the optimum level of zinc in the diets of growing pigs reared in the tropical environment using essentially the locally‐produced feeding stuffs, and the second to investigate the effects of adding graded levels of lard to these diets on the performance characteristics of pigs and on the incidence of parakeratosis. The parameters investigated include daily gains, feed consumption, efficiency of feed utilisation and the appearance of parakeratotic lesions on the skin. Diets in trial 1 were supplemented with 0, 100, 200, 400 and 500 parts/million of zinc, while those in trial 2 were supplemented with four levels of zinc 0, 100, 200 and 300 parts/million and three levels of lard, 0, 2.5 and 5% in a 4 × 3 factorial experiment. The optimum level of zinc as established by trial 1 was 100 parts/million, the 300–500 parts/million zinc levels being detrimental, while with the addition of graded levels of lard in trial 2 these higher levels of zinc gave better performances as the lard levels increased. A direct relationship between lard level and zinc content of the diets was therefore established, the higher the level of lard in the diet, the greater was the level of zinc supplementation for optimum growth response and feed utilisation efficiency of young pigs.