zinc-methionine and Body-Weight

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of prepartum supplementation of zinc-methionine (Zn-Met) on feed digestibility, rumen fermentation patterns, and immunity status in dams and passive immunity transfer in their calves. A randomized complete design was used in this study. Forty multiparous Holstein dairy cows in late pregnancy (60 d before the expected calving date) were blocked by parity (2.1 ± 0.3), body weight (651 ± 52 kg), and expected calving date, and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. Cows were supplemented with Zn as Zn-Met at 0, 20, 40, or 60 mg/kg of dry matter (DM) from 60 d before expected calving date to the calving day. Though the nutrient digestibility was not affected by Zn supplementation, DM intake, Zn digestibility, and Zn deposition increased linearly with increasing Zn-Met supplementation. Ruminal pH and molar proportion of individual volatile fatty acids were similar, whereas a linear decrease and increase were observed in ruminal ammonia and microbial crude protein concentration, respectively, with increasing Zn-Met supplementation. Maternal serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase, carboxypeptidase, Cu and Zn superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were greater in cows supplemented with >40 mg of Zn/kg of DM compared with the control group. With increasing Zn-Met supplementation, maternal blood concentration of IL-1 decreased linearly, whereas IL-2 and IL-6 increased linearly, and no differences were observed in IL-4. Concentration of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyric acids in maternal blood was similar between treatments. No difference was observed in colostrum composition with increasing Zn-Met supplementation. Concentration of Zn and immunoglobulins (including IgA, IgG, and IgM) in maternal blood did not differ among treatments. However, Zn concentration in colostrum and blood of calves increased linearly. The concentration of IgA and IgM in colostrum increased linearly with increasing Zn-Met supplementation, whereas no differences in immunoglobulins were observed in calf blood. In conclusion, Zn supplementation as Zn-Met at 40 of mg/kg of DM may improve antioxidant activity of dam and potentially increase passive immunity transfer in calves.

Topics: 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; Animal Feed; Animals; Antioxidants; Body Weight; Cattle; Colostrum; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Female; Fermentation; Immunity; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Methionine; Organometallic Compounds; Pregnancy; Rumen

1. Different concentrations of zinc-methionine (Zn-Met) were given to pigeon squabs, and the resulting effects on growth, immune functions and intestinal microflora were investigated from hatching to 28 d of age. A total of 180 artificially hatched pigeon squabs were randomly allotted to each of three treatments with three replicates of 20 squabs. The three treatments given were either one ml (2 mg/ml) Zn-Met, one ml (10 mg/ml) Zn-Met or one ml 0.9% NaCl solution. 2. The results showed that Zn-Met improved the growth performance of squabs. The average daily and average weekly weight gain was significantly greater in squabs treated with Zn-Met than in the control group. 3. The group given 2 and 10 mg supplemental Zn-Met had heavier thymus, spleen and bursa of Fabricius than the control group at d 28. 4. Maternal antibody titres against Newcastle disease haemagglutination inhibition and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase were significantly higher in squabs treated with supplemental 2 and 10 mg Zn-Met compared to the control group at d 14 and d 28. 5. Additionally, the squabs given supplemental 2 mg Zn-Met exhibited significantly higher Bacillaceae, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium populations at d 14 and d 28, but lower Escherichia coli populations at d 28 compared to the control group. On the contrary, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium populations were significantly decreased with 10 mg Zn-Met at d 28. 6. This study indicates that supplementation with Zn-Met has a positive effect on growth performance, immune function and regulation of intestinal flora in pigeons. An inclusion level of 2 mg seems to be better than 10 mg Zn-Met per day per bird.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Columbidae; Dietary Supplements; Methionine; Microbiota; Organ Size; Organometallic Compounds

The effect of feeding Cu- and Zn-methionine to ewes was studied in a 240d feeding trial. The plasma and tissue Cu and Zn concentrations and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity were employed to assess the relative bioavailability from Cu- and Zn-methionine. The macro and micronutrient intake, utilization, plasma mineral status, tissue accumulation of Cu and Zn as well as wool concentration of Cu and Zn were studied in ewes (n=12) fed a corn-soybean meal based basal diet with 50% more Cu and Zn supplementation over the basal diet either from Cu- and Zn-sulfate (Cu-Sulf+Zn-Sulf group) or Cu- and Zn-methionine (Cu-Meth+Zn-Meth group). The average daily feed intake and body weight gain of ewes did not differ due to dietary supplementation of Cu- and Zn-methionine. However, dry matter intake was comparatively lower and thus resulted in better feed: gain in Cu- and Zn-methionine group as compared to ewes fed Cu- and Zn-sulfate. Supplementation of Cu and Zn over the basal diet either from methionine-chelated or sulfate sources resulted in increased plasma Cu and Zn as well as Cu/Zn-SOD activity on d-30, which indicated a positive correlation between plasma Cu and Zn and Cu/Zn-SOD activity. The gut absorption, liver concentrations of Cu and Zn, and liver Cu/Zn-SOD activity were significantly (P<0.01) higher in ewes supplemented with Cu- and Zn-methionine compared to Cu- and Zn-sulfate. Periodical analysis of wool samples indicated no significant difference in Cu and Zn content between Cu-and Zn-methionine and Cu- and Zn-sulfate groups. Feeding of Cu and Zn from methionine-chelated source resulted in reduced (P<0.01) excretion of Cu and Zn in feces indicating their better utilization, and this will have positive implication on environment. The gut absorption values, plasma and liver tissue concentrations of Cu and Zn supported the hypothesis that Cu- and Zn-methionine supplements have better bioavailability compared to Cu- and Zn-sulfate and Cu- and Zn-dependent enzyme (Cu/Zn-SOD) could be used to determine the bioavailability of Cu and Zn.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Copper; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Female; Liver; Methionine; Nutritional Status; Organometallic Compounds; Random Allocation; Sheep; Superoxide Dismutase; Wool; Zinc

1. The current experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) and zinc methionine (Zn-Met) on growth and their effect on plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration, growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mRNA expression in mice. 2. Ninety male KunMing (KM) mice were randomly divided into three treatments. The control group was fed on a basal diet containing 11.67 mg/kg of zinc. The ZnSO4 group and Zn-Met group were fed on the diets supplemented with ZnSO4 or Zn-Met at 30 mg/kg (containing zinc of 40.05 and 40.75 mg/kg, respectively). The mice were offered the test diets for 10 days. Weight gains and food intake were measured at the end of the experiment, zinc contents in liver and serum were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry; GH was determined by radioimmunoassay, the levels of GHR and IGF-I mRNA were determined with reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction. 3. Both ZnSO4 and Zn-Met enhanced weight gain and food intake in the mice, Zn-Met improved the growth and food intake more effectively than ZnSO4 did (P < 0.05). The both forms of zinc had no effect on GH and the level of GHR mRNA expression (P > 0.05) and they up-regulated the expression of IGF-I mRNA (P < 0.05). As compared to ZnSO4, Zn-Met enhanced the level of IGF-I mRNA significantly (P < 0.05). 4. Both ZnSO4 and Zn-Met had no effect on plasma GH and the expression of GHR mRNA, but they enhanced the expression of IGF-I mRNA. Zinc methionine enhanced the weight gain and up-regulated IGF-I mRNA expression more effectively than ZnSO4.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Body Weight; Eating; Gene Expression; Growth Hormone; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Liver; Male; Methionine; Mice; Organometallic Compounds; Receptors, Somatotropin; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Trace Elements; Up-Regulation; Weight Gain; Zinc; Zinc Sulfate

Eighty Targhee ewes with single or twin lambs were used to investigate the effects of chelated zinc methionine and level of dietary CP on milk and wool production, DMI, and ewe and lamb BW change. Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial. Dietary treatments started 30 d prepartum and continued until 42 d postpartum. Milk production was estimated at 4, 10, 18, and 28 d postpartum. During gestation, DMI by ewes receiving zinc methionine and the 14.9% CP diet was greater (P < .10) than DMI by ewes not supplemented with zinc methionine and ewes fed the 11.3% CP diet. Ewes fed the 14.9% CP diet tended (P < .14) to gain more BW from 30 d prepartum to 4 d postpartum and lose more BW from 4 to 42 d postpartum than ewes fed the 11.3% CP diet. Ewes fed zinc methionine and the 14.9% CP diet produced more (P < .10) milk on d 28 than their counterparts. Ewes rearing twins produced more (P < .05) milk on d 4, 10, and 18 than ewes rearing single lambs. However, milk production on d 28 was not affected by number of lambs reared (P = .68). Lamb ADG at 28, 42, and 59 d postpartum was greater (P < .05) for both the zinc methionine treatment and the 14.9% CP diet. Zinc methionine (P = .11) and the 14.9% CP diet (P = .02) increased weaning weights by 6 and 9%, respectively. We conclude that both the zinc methionine supplement and the 14.9% CP diet resulted in more persistent milk production. In addition, when ewes and lambs were fed for an average of 42 d during early lactation, a 14.9% CP diet, and to a lesser degree, a chelated zinc methionine supplement, lamb weaning weights were improved.

Topics: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight; Dietary Proteins; Eating; Female; Food, Fortified; Lactation; Methionine; Milk; Organometallic Compounds; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Sheep; Wool

The ability of dietary zinc-methionine (Zn-Met) to enhance mononuclear-phagocytic function against Salmonella arizona and enteritidis was investigated in young turkeys. Feed/gain and body wt gain at 21 d of age were not affected by Zn-Met. The addition of 30 or 45 ppm Zn from Zn-Met to a Zn adequate diet significantly increased cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin-P. The clearance of intravenously administered S. enteritidis from blood was not affected by 30 ppm of supplemental Zn from Zn-Met. However, 30 ppm Zn from Zn-Met increased the reduction of intravenously administered S. arizona from spleen. Percentages of myeloid and mononuclear-phagocytic cells before and after S. enteritidis infection were not affected by supplemental Zn-Met. Turkeys supplemented with Zn-Met showed enhanced in vitro phagocytosis of S. enteritidis by Sephadex-elicited abdominal exudate cells. The phagocytosis of S. arizona was unaffected by Zn-Met.

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Basophils; Body Weight; Cell Adhesion; Colony Count, Microbial; Intradermal Tests; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Liver; Macrophages; Male; Methionine; Organometallic Compounds; Phagocytes; Phytohemagglutinins; Poultry Diseases; Random Allocation; Salmonella; Salmonella enteritidis; Salmonella Infections, Animal; Skin; Spleen; Turkeys; Zinc

Three consecutive trials involving approximately 700 to 800 broilers (0 to 28 days) were conducted to examine effects on growth and immunity of chicks after supplementing dams with inorganic Zn versus organic Zn. Offspring from hens fed a basal diet (72 mg Zn/kg) or diets with 152 mg Zn/kg supplemented with ZnO or organic Zn-Met were randomized across four battery brooders. Chicks were fed a starter diet without supplemental Zn containing 100 mg Zn/kg or diets supplemented with 40 mg/kg Zn from ZnO and DL-Met or Zn-Met containing 140 mg Zn/kg. No differences among treatments (P greater than .05) were found in feed conversion or average BW. Supplemental Zn-Met in hen diet increased (P less than .06) cellular immune response in progeny. Embryonic bone weights were higher (P less than .05) in progeny when dams were fed Zn-Met. Zinc as Zn-Met in diets of dams and progeny enhanced primary antibody titers to Salmonella pullorum antigen.

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Body Weight; Bone and Bones; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Eating; Female; Immunity, Cellular; Male; Methionine; Organometallic Compounds; Random Allocation; Zinc; Zinc Oxide