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Influence of Zinc Deficiency on Dry Matter Digestibility in Ruminants¹

Department of Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

ABSTRACT

Previously it was established that when fed at the same level of intake as normal animals, zinc-deficient calves grew at a much slower rate and required more feed per unit of weight gain (5). This research was conducted to determine whether a zinc deficiency affected digestibility in goats and calves. Dry matter digestibility of a purified diet was determined with two zinc-deficient and two control goats in four seven-day total collection periods. A comparable experiment was conducted with calves using three nine-day collection periods. Dry matter digestibilities were not affected by the zinc deficiency. Thus, the reduced feed efficiency in zinc-deficient animals (5) is caused by a reduced utilization of digested nutrients.

¹ Journal Paper no. 480, College Experiment Station, University of Georgia, Athens. Supported in part by Public Health Service Research Grant no. AM 07367 NTN from the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases.