Influence of dietary lysine on the utilization of zinc from zinc sulfate and a zinc-lysine complex by young pigs.

We conducted two trials (n = 144 and 96) to evaluate the response of feeding either ZnSO4 x H2O or a zinc-lysine complex (ZnLys) in combination with various lysine levels on growth performance, liver, kidney, and 10th rib Zn concentration, serum Zn humoral immune response and absorption of Zn (chromic oxide method) of young pigs. The following treatments were started after a 7-d postweaning adjustment during which all pigs were fed a common diet adequate in zinc. Diets were as follows: 1) basal 1 (B1), .8% dietary lysine without added Zn (basal contained 32 ppm Zn); 2) B1 plus 100 ppm Zn from ZnSO4; 3) B1 plus 100 ppm Zn from ZnLys, 4) basal 2 (B2), 1.1% lysine without added Zn; 5) B2 plus 100 ppm Zn from ZnSO4; 6) B2 plus 100 ppm Zn from ZnLys. In Trial 1 only, 100 ppm Zn from ZnSO4 (diet 7) or ZnLys (diet 8) was added to a .95% lysine basal diet. The basal 20% CP diet contained 9.0% corn gluten meal to lower the total lysine level. Within lysine level, all diets were made isolysinic by using crystalline lysine. Zinc sulfate, ZnLys, or lysine replaced dextrose in the basal diet. After 4 wk on test, one barrow in each pen was killed; liver, kidney, left 10th rib, and contents of the stomach, small intestine, and lower colon were removed for Zn analyses. Performance (ADG and ADFI) was only improved (P < .05) in one of the two trials when either zinc source was added to the basal diets, but performance was higher (P < .01) for pigs fed 1.1% lysine diets compared with .8% lysine diets in both trials. Serum Zn concentrations were lower (P < .001) for pigs fed both dietary lysine basal diets without added Zn. The humoral response to sheep red blood cells and ovalbumin was not influenced (P > .20) by lysine level, or Zn level and source. Pigs fed diets without added Zn had lower (P < .001) liver, kidney, and rib Zn concentrations than pigs fed diets with added Zn regardless of Zn source. Dietary lysine did not influence liver Zn, but kidney (P < .01) and rib (P < .001) Zn concentrations were lower for pigs fed the higher lysine level. Digestibility coefficients of Zn were lower in the stomach for pigs fed diets without added Zn, similar among Zn levels and sources in the small intestine, and higher in the lower colon for pigs fed the basal diets without added Zn. Lysine level and Zn source did not influence Zn absorption. The ZnSO4 and a zinc lysine complex seemed to be equally effective in promoting growth performance, zinc absorption, and tissue stores of young pigs when diets contained deficient, adequate, or slightly more than adequate levels of lysine.