Inhibitory action of two zinc oxide sources on the ex vivo growth of porcine small intestine bacteria

Pharmacological dosage of zinc oxide in piglet weaning diets is a common practice to improve growth performance and gut health. However, high zinc excretion in animal wastes poses environmental challenges. Alternatives to current practice are studied. In this study, the inhibitory action of 2 zinc oxide sources on the ex vivo growth of small intestinal bacteria from weaned piglets was studied. Lag time was higher (P < 0.05) in media supplemented with a new zinc oxide preparation in stomach samples, but not in jejunum samples. Bacterial growth reduction (P < 0.05) was more drastic and more rapid in media supplemented with the new zinc oxide preparation

Trace elements in animal production systems

This book deals with trace elements, such as cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc which are essential to modern animal nutrition, but are increasingly detrimental to soil and water quality in today's globalized production. The goal in finding a sustainable balance between trace element use in animal nutrition and its impact on the environment is addressed

SiMMinTM: on line software tool to simulate copper balance in feeding programs of pigs

At pharmacological dosage, copper (Cu) can improve growth performance of pigs. Consequently, it is commonlysupplied in excess in piglets diets and Cu levels in animal wastes may exceed maximal authorized Cu value when manure is used as organic fertiliser. Some scientific methods to estimate copper balance in pig farms have been proposed by INRA and can be used by the pig industry. Cu retention in growing pig is calculated based on the difference in Cu body content between the beginning and the end of a defined period. In order to calculate easily the Cu excretion, the software siMMin™ Cu has been developed with the support of INRA, with the following variables: feeding programs on the farm, growth performance and Cu concentrations in each feed. It focuses on the pig growing life, from the weaning to the slaughter. The software siMMin™ Cu enables to simulate changes in each variable compared to the existing situation, and to measure the rate of improvement in the total reduction of Cu excretion in the life of the growing pig. It is intuitive, user-friendly and available on line since December 2016 at www.animine.eu/simmin for all stakeholders involved in pig production. Depending on the level of interest expressed locally, this software should be later available in national languages for major pig producing countries, like it has been realized in German and in Chinese for the Zn application

Biodisponibilité de différentes sources d’oxyde de zinc chez le poulet de chair

National audienc

Adapting trace mineral nutrition of birds for optimising the environment and poultry product quality

In the past, trace minerals have been inadequately considered by poultry nutritionists, as demonstrated by the scarce availability of literature. The practice of using high safety margins between requirements and dietary concentrations and the relative low cost of these essential minerals are possible reasons for this. Environmental considerations and regulations limiting trace mineral supply and improvements in analytical methods to detect putative contaminants in mineral sources have led to a need to a re-examination of trace mineral requirements. In addition, new knowledge regarding trace mineral roles in bone metabolism, anti-oxidant status, homeostatic regulation, product quality, immunology and the development of novel trace mineral sources have favoured, for the past 15 years, interests in optimising trace mineral nutrition considering other parameters than solely the bird performance. This review analyses the role of essential trace minerals (mainly Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, I, Se) in broiler and laying hen nutrition. This work aims to highlight the evaluation of trace mineral requirement, the bioavailability of trace mineral sources, especially in regards with phytate antagonism, and the main functions of trace minerals in egg, eggshell and meat quality. The impact of trace minerals on the environment (toxicity to plants and microorganisms) is considered and nutritional means to reduce the risk of environmental contamination will be explored. Finally, the possibilities of poultry product's enrichment in some trace minerals for the benefit of human health will be explored

Effect of the physicochemical properties of zinc oxide sources on their bioavailability in broilers

International audienceThe bioavailability of a trace mineral source is related to its intestinal solubility (bioaccessibility), which in turn is determined by its physicochemical properties. It is still not clear which characteristics are more relevant in affecting solubility and bioavailability of mineral sources. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a common feed additive used to supplement zinc in the diet of monogastric animals. However, different sources have shown variable responses on animal bioavailability.This study hypothesised that different sources of feed grade ZnO have various physicochemical features that lead to distinct bioavailability values. Feed grade ZnO samples collected from the feed industry worldwide were characterised for their physicochemical features and tested in broilers to allow bioavailability determined.A total of 135 male Cobb broiler chickens were fed a standard starter diet from day 1 after hatching up to d 7. At d 8, animals were allocated in individual cages and fed one of the following dietary treatments during 15 days: a basal diet with 23.5 ppm of zinc and seven test diets with supplemented ZnO or zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) at 6 or 12 ppm.Different sources of ZnO showed an effect of solubility in the stomach and supplementation influenced total Zn levels in the ileum. The bioavailability of the different sources varied from 49% to 160% in relation to ZnSO4. Aggregate size of particles seems to explain most of the variability in the bioavailability of the different sources tested in broilers. In conclusion, physicochemical properties of ZnO can partly explain the variability observed in terms of biological value

Influence of copper source and dietary inclusion level on growth performance of weaned pigs and expression of trace element related genes in the small intestine

Copper is routinely supplemented to weanling pig diets at concentrations above nutritional requirements to enhance growth performance. We hypothesised that this effect depends on the source of Cu and its dietary concentration. We tested this in weaned pigs (26 d of age) over a 35-d period using a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two Cu-sources (CuSO4 and Cu2O, monovalent copper oxide, CoRouge®) and three supplementary dietary Cu-levels (15, 80 and 160 mg Cu/kg) as respective factors. Increasing Cu level linearly increased (P < 0.001) final BW and daily gain. These effects tended (P = 0.09) to be greater with Cu2O than CuSO4. Feed conversion ratio decreased linearly (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary Cu content, independent of Cu source. Plasma Cu, Zn and Fe levels were unaffected, whereas liver Cu content increased quadratically (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary Cu content, with a larger increase (P < 0.001) with CuSO4 than Cu2O. Bile Cu content increased quadratically (P = 0.025) with increasing Cu content, irrespective of Cu source. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that increasing Cu content quadratically (P = 0.009) increased duodenal but not ileal metallothionein 1A (MT1A) mRNA, with greater effect (P = 0.010) of CuSO4. Regardless of the Cu source, increasing Cu dose linearly increased (P = 0.006) duodenal DMT1/SLC11A2 mRNA but decreased ZIP4/SLC39A4 mRNA in duodenum (P < 0.001) and ileum (P < 0.005). ZnT10/SLC30A10 mRNA was significantly (P = 0.021) and numerically (P = 0.061) greater with Cu2O compared to CuSO4, in duodenum and ileum, respectively. Copper content quadratically modulated duodenal but not ileal transferrin receptor (P = 0.029) and ferric reductase CYBRD1 mRNA (P = 0.022). In hypothalamus, high Cu dose (P = 0.024) and Cu2O as source (P = 0.028) reduced corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA. Low versus high CuSO4 increased corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR2) mRNA, while low Cu2O had the opposite effect (P = 0.009). In conclusion, incremental Cu intake enhanced growth performance, with a tendency for a greater effect of Cu2O. The lower increase in duodenal MT1A mRNA and liver Cu content indicates that less Cu from Cu2O was absorbed by gut and sequestered in liver. Thus, high Cu absorption is not essential for its growth-promoting effect and dietary Cu may affect intestinal Fe and Zn absorption via the active, transcellular route. The effects on hypothalamic CRH and CRHR2 expression indicate a role for the hypothalamus in mediating the effects of Cu on growth performance