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Pig Journal Volume: 59
Publication date: July 2007

Refereed Section

HIGH LIVER ZINC CONCENTRATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF ORAL ZINC OXIDE ADMINISTRATION IN PIGS. IMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM A ROUTINE POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION
J.H. Payne, C.J. Livesey and G.J. Jackson

Abstract
Zinc is widely distributed throughout the body and plays an essential role in many body processes. It is believed that zinc inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria that might otherwise adversely affect the newly weaned pig. For this reason, in Great Britain porcine weaner diets are frequently medicated with zinc oxide. Standard inclusions rate are 3.1kg per tonne contributing 3100ppm ZnO, equivalent to 2500ppm zinc.

The authors report post-mortem findings of two eight-week-old pigs, together with two small scale studies, prompted by the unusual findings on the index farm. On the index farm, there was a history of recent increased mortality, anaemia and scour in a herd known to have post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). Zinc oxide supplementation was given from 3 to 9 weeks of age. Since anaemia and scours can both be associated with zinc toxicity, this aspect was further investigated. Liver zinc concentrations of 425 and 823 ppm were measured (laboratory reference range 24 to 69 ppm).

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