Biochemical, Skeletal and Allometric Changes Due to Zinc Deficiency in the Baby Pig

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Abstract
Comparisons of biological measures made on baby pigs weaned shortly after birth to zinc-deficient or zinc-adequate purified diets show that zinc deficiency in the baby pig results in a reduced rate and efficiency of body weight gain, a reduced rate of food intake, parakeratosis, an alteration in leukocyte differentiation, a reduction in the levels of serum zinc, calcium and alkaline phosphatase, tissue zinc and liver alcohol dehydrogenase, an alteration of serum protein electrophoretic patterns, a reduction in size and strength of bone and changes in organ allometrics. Paired-feeding studies indicated that these changes with the exceptions of bone size and strength and certain allometric values were due to zinc deficiency and not due to reduced food intake. Thymus weight was greatly reduced in zinc-deficient pigs. Growth rate diminished in zinc-deficient pigs before food intake was reduced. Incorporation of 125 ppm of copper into the diet did not alleviate zinc deficiency or significantly influence the value of any of the measures taken.