Research Note: Bioavailability of Zinc-Methionine for Chicks

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the bioavailability of zinc from zinc oxide and zinc-methionine complex in 560 chicks fed semipurified diets (Experiment 1) or corn and soybean meal-based diets (Experiment 2). Zinc intakes varied from 8 to 88 μg zinc/g diet The source of zinc did not affect growth; tibiotarsus and liver zinc, copper, and iron concentrations; or immune function. Pancreatic zinc tended to be greater when the zinc-methionine complex rather than zinc oxide was fed. Levels of zinc intake affected growth, tibiotarsus and pancreatic zinc concentrations, and tibiotarsus copper concentrations.