The bioavailability of different chemical forms of zinc in fattening lambs

Abstract. The aim of the presented study was an estimation of the zinc bioavailability derived from amino acid complexes with methionine, lysine and glycine in growing lambs. 48 lambs, Polish Merino × Romanowski × Charolaise crossbreed, at age about 10 weeks and average body weight of 20 kg were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups. Animals were kept collectively and fed with concentrate and hay in amount: 0.7–1.2 and 0.3–0.5 kg/day/head, respectively. After rearing period 6 rams from each group with average body weight of about 30 kg were divided into digestibility-balance experiments. At the end of the experiment the blood samples were taken, then from each group 8 lambs were chosen, killed and during dissection tissue samples were taken (liver, pancreas, kidney and rib bone). In tissue samples as well as in fodders and excrements the content of zinc was determined. Obtained data in digestibility experiments allowed on calculation of apparent absorption and retention of zinc and the level of Zn determined in tissues’ samples were used to the estimation of bioavailability of zinc from different ones applied in experiment sources.

Apparent absorption and retention of zinc were higher (P≤0.01) in lambs receiving in mixtures amino acid complexes of zinc than in animals from the control group. The higher content of zinc in soft and hard tissues of lambs which received organic forms of zinc might indicate better assimilation and bioavailability of zinc from these forms than from oxide. Among tested organic forms of zinc, the zinc-lysine complex was characterized as having the most advantageous property.