AUTHOR=Zhang Gang , Hu Guoqing , Yang Zhenyan , Zhao Jinbiao 

TITLE=Effects of Tetrabasic Zinc Chloride on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Fecal Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.905242

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.905242

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC), as an alternative to zinc oxide (ZnO), on growth performance, serum indexes, and fecal microbiota of weaned piglets. A total of 108 weaned piglets (average initial body weight of 7.84 ± 0.97 kg) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatments with six replicate pens, six piglets per pen. The dietary treatments included a control diet (CON), a ZnO diet (CON + 1,600 mg/kg ZnO), and a TBZC diet (CON + 1,000 mg/kg TBZC). The average daily gain of pigs in the TBZC group was greater (p < 0.05) than those in CON and ZnO groups during the overall 28-day period. Piglets fed the ZnO and TBZC diets showed lower (P < 0.05) diarrhea incidence than those fed the CON diet during d 1~14 and the overall 28-day period. Piglets fed the TBZC diet had greater (P < 0.05) digestibility of crude protein and gross energy than those fed the CON diet. Serum concentrations of IGF-I and GH, as well as ALP activity, were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the TBZC group compared to the CON group on d 14. Piglets fed the ZnO diet had greater (P < 0.05) acetate and total short-chain fatty acids concentrations, while the TBZC diet had greater (P < 0.05) fecal acetate and propionate concentrations on day 28. Moreover, TBZC supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) microbial α-diversity compared with the CON group. The fecal microbiota of piglets in ZnO and TBZC treatment groups tended (P = 0.08) to have greater relative abundance of Prevotellaceae compared with the CON piglets. In conclusion, TBZC acted as a suitable alternative to ZnO to reduce zinc excretion, and improve the growth performance and gut health of weaned piglets.