Effects of Dietary Zinc Level and an Inflammatory Challenge on Performance and Immune Response of Weanling Pigs (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Zinc is a cofactor of 300 enzymes and is known to be essential for growth and development of all organisms. Zinc is involved in many metabolic processes and Zn deficiency has been demonstrated to reduce weight gain and feed intake, and cause parakeratosis or diarrhoea in young pigs (Miller et al., 1968; Whitenack et al., 1978). Zinc is also necessary for the normal function of the immune system. Zinc supplementation must be adjusted to the actual requirements of pigs because severe zinc deficiency leads to dysfunction of the immune system. Studies reveal that dietary requirements of trace minerals to optimize immune function may be higher than the requirements for growth (Klasing, 2001), yet studies in swine to determine effects of Zn on immunity are lacking (Johnson et al., 2001).