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Potato fiber (PF) is a by-product of starch production, rich in cellulose, pectin and hemicelluloses. According to some authors, PF may modulate intestinal microbiota activity and composition, as well as increase crude fiber digestibility and energy utilization. On the other hand, Zn is an essential trace mineral for animal growth and for its structural and catalytic role in many enzymes, transcription factors and functional proteins. The interactive effect of PF and Zn sources has never been investigated. Owing to the chemical nature of PF and its bioactivity in the gut, it was hypothesized that it may modify the effect of Zn supplements on growth of pigs. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Zn supplements, combined with PF or lignocellulose (LC), on growth and health status of young pigs. For that purpose, 24 piglets (Danbred x Duroc) with an initial body weight of 10.8 ± 0.82 kg were assigned to 4 dietary treatments (n = 6) arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design: (i) 1.7% lignocellulose (LC) and 0.033% ZnSO4; (ii) 1.7% LC and 0.046% Zn glycinate (ZnGly); (iii) 5% PF and 0.033% ZnSO4; and (iv) 5% PF and 0.046% ZnGly. Diets were fed for four weeks. LC and PF provided 10 g crude fiber/kg diet, whereas ZnSO4 and ZnGly provided 120 mg Zn/kg diet. As a result, ZnGly increased average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG) and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of starch and cellulose, but decreased that of crude ash, Zn and sugars as compared to ZnSO4. ZnGly increased blood albumin concentration and reduced creatinine levels, but did not affect Zn content in contrast to ZnSO4. PF increased digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, total phosphorus and Zn, but decreased that of phytic phosphorus in comparison with LC. The interactive effect of both factors affected the digestibility of sugars, hemicellulose, and phosphorus concentration in the blood. In conclusion, PF and ZnGly independently contributed to the improvement of nutrient digestibility and health status of growing pigs. On the one hand, ZnGly stimulated ADFI and increased ADG of pigs, improving growth performance of pigs. On the other hand, PF improved nutrient digestibility, but not zinc status of growing pigs.
Barszcz, M., Taciak, M., Tusnio, A., Cobanová, K., & Grešáková, L. U. (2019). The effect of organic and inorganic zinc source, used in combination with potato fiber, on growth, nutrient digestibility and biochemical blood profile in growing pigs. Livestock Science, 227, 37-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.06.017