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Experimentally Produced Zinc Deficiency in the Goat¹

Dairy Department

S. C. Schmittle

Poultry Disease Research, University of Georgia, Athens

ABSTRACT

In earlier experiments a zinc deficiency was produced and described in calves (3–5) and lambs (6). However, knowledge concerning the effects of a zinc deficiency on ruminants is very incomplete. Diets which have been used to produce this deficiency in ruminants are quite expensive. Thus, feed costs would be a limiting factor in experiments in which a large number of cattle are maintained on such a zinc-deficient diet for extended periods. Also, if appreciable numbers of large cattle were to be sacrificed without salvage value, the expense would be large. In these and other situations, goats would have a considerable advantage over cattle. However, a zinc deficiency had never been reported in goats.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a zinc deficiency could be produced in goats.

Seven male kids were purchased from a local goat farm at approximately 1 wk of age. These were fed a limited quantity of whole cow's milk until 10 wk of age, a total of 102 lb of milk per goat.

¹ Journal Paper No. 350, College Experiment Station, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Supported in part by a PHS research grant No. AM 07367-01 NTN from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Public Health Service.