Use of Lower Level of Capsulated Zinc Oxide as an Alternative to Pharmacological Dose of Zinc Oxide for Weaned Piglets

Pharmacological level of zinc oxide is a common recommendation of swine industries, but that could produce metal toxicity to plants and soil microorganisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of lower level of capsulated zinc oxide as an alternative to pharmacological level of zinc oxide for weaned piglets. In this study, 90 weaned piglets were randomly assigned into 3 groups (each group with 3 replicates, 10 piglets per replicate) and were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 0 (the control group), 3000 mg kg(-1) zinc from zinc oxide (the zinc oxide group) and 1500 mg kg(-1) zinc from capsulated zinc oxide (the capsulated zinc oxide group) for 7 days. Results indicated that lower level of capsulated zinc oxide tended to increase the average daily gain (p = 0.062), significantly decreased diarrhea ratio (p<0.01) and significantly increased the serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and zinc (p<0.01) compared to the control group. Serum concentration of insulin-like factor-I (IGF-I), mRNA levels for IGF-I in liver, jejunum and mRNA level for zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) in jejunum were markedly improved by capsulated zinc oxide. There was no difference between zinc oxide group and capsulated zinc oxide group, except for the fecal zinc concentration. Lower level of capsulated zinc oxide significantly decreased the fecal zinc concentration compared to the zinc oxide group (p<0.01). These results showed that lower level of capsulated zinc oxide exhibited beneficial effects on weaned piglets and could be an alternative to pharmacological level of zinc oxide in weaned piglets.