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Effects of Zinc Deficiency per se on Feed Efficiency, Serum Alkaline Phosphatase, Zinc in Skin, Behavior, Greying, and other Measurements in the Holstein Calf¹

Department of Dairy Science and School of Veterinary Medicine University of Georgia, Athens

ABSTRACT

Holstein calves were fed a zinc-deficient diet until 21 wk old. To separate effects of zinc deficiency per se from the indirect influence of reduced feed intake, groups of calves were fed the control diet both ad libitum and in amounts restricted to somewhat less than those voluntarily consumed by the deficient ones. Zinc deficiency per se resulted in lower feed efficiency, reduced serum alkaline phosphatase, and lower blood hemoglobin, but did not significantly affect serum lactic dehydrogenase or packed cell volume. Likewise, in skin biopsy samples, zinc, magnesium, dry matter percentage, and dry weight per unit area were unaffected. Attempts to determine the effect of the deficiency on respiration rate were unsuccessful, because the deficient calves refused to respond to a variety of stimuli intended to cause vigorous exercise. The deficiency-effects were reversible. Except for reduced weight gains, calves fed the control diet in limited amounts had no symptoms of a zinc deficiency. Several months after they had recovered, most of the formerly zinc-deficient calves, but none of the controls, had grey hair on spots from which skin samples had been surgically removed during the treatment period.

¹ Journal Paper no. 435, College Experiment Station, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Supported in part by Public Health Service Research Grant no. AM 07367 NTN from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases.