Provision of zinc to sheep by means of an intraruminal pellet

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Abstract
A group of young wethers consuming a Zn-deficient diet (3.8 .mu.g Zn g-1) had a 10 g Zn pellet inserted in their rumens. The pellet maintained plasma and wool Zn concentrations and plasma alkaline phosphatase activities for 7, 8.5 and > 10 wk, respectively, at levels equal to those of another group on a similar diet supplemented with 16 .mu.g Zn g-1. The amount of Zn in feces indicated that the pellets initially released 15 mg Zn day-1 and that after 7 wk, when only 3 mg Zn day-1 was being released, the effective life of the pellet was finished. The pellet offers a simple method for testing the existence of Zn-responsive conditions in the field and would be adequate to overcome short-term deficiency caused by seasonal conditions or pregnancy. A 3rd group of wethers on the deficient diet alone, showed a decline in plasma Zn from 0.7 .mu.g Zn ml-1 to 0.25 .mu.g ml-1 in 3 wk, and both plasma alkaline phosphatase activities and wool Zn concentrations were lower than in the other groups after 7 wk.