Research Note: Bioavailability of Zinc-Methionine for Chicks 1

J. L. PIMENTEL, M. E. COOK,2 and J. L. GREGER

Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1571
(Received for publication October 9, 1990)

1991 Poultry Science 70:1637-1639

INTRODUCTION

Recently, amino acids complexed to minerals have been marketed as feed additives. Zincmethionine complex has been reported to
increase carcass quality grade, marbling score,
and backfat in cattle (Greene et al., 1988).
Scientific literature comparing inorganic zinc
and zinc-methionine in poultry is limited,
although it is known that methionine tends to
augment absorption of zinc in mammals
(Greger, 1989). Thus, the purpose of the
present study was to compare the performance
and trace element accumulation of chicks fed
zinc as an oxide or as a zinc-methionine
complex.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Designs
Two experiments were conducted to determine the bioavailability of zinc oxide3 and zincmethionine complex4 in chicks. In Experiment

Research partially supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison,
WI5 3706-1571, Project 2623 and Zinpro Corporation Chasca, MN 55318.
^ o whom correspondence should be addressed: Mark
E. Cook, Department of Poultry Science, 1675 Observatory
Drive, Madison WI 53706.
3
A.C.S. reagent, Aldrich Chemical Company, Inc.,
Milwaukee, WI 53233.
4
Zinpro-200, 20% elemental zinc, Zinpro Corporation,
Chasca, MN 55318.

1, 280 Hubbard broiler chicks were fed the

National Research Council's (1984) standardized, semipurified diet supplemented so that
the diet provided 8, 18, 28, 38, 48, and 58 jig
zinc/g diet in a 2 x 6 factorial arrangement of
treatments (two sources and six levels of zinc).
These diets were fed for ad libitum consumption. Two additional treatment groups consisted
of chicks fed 58 Jig zinc/g diet supplemented as
zinc oxide or zinc-methionine to the level of feed
consumption by the group fed the basal diet (8
jig zinc/g diet). Restricted birds were fed in the
morning of each day.
In Experiment 2,280 chicks were fed a corn
and soybean meal diet (Pimentel et al., 1991)
supplemented so that the diet provided 28, 38,
48, 58, 68, 78, and 88 ug zinc/g diet as either
zinc oxide or zinc-methionine. Diets were fed
for ad libitum consumption.
In both experiments, each treatment consisted of 20 chicks divided in two replicates of 10
chicks per pen. The level of methionine was kept
constant in all diets by varying DL-methionine
levels. By analyses, the diets in Experiments 1
and 2 provided 7 and 6 ug copper/g diet and 95
and 210 ug iron/g diet, respectively.
Chicks were kept in continuously lighted,
thermostatically controlled starter batteries with
raised wire floors for the first 4 wk of age, then in
growing batteries until 7 wk of age. Feeders,
waterers, and wire floors used in both the
experiments were stainless steel, and the remaining parts of the battery cages were plastic coated
to minimize environmental zinc contamination.
Deionized water was provided for ad libitum
intake.

1637

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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 com and soybean meal-based
diets (Experiment 2). Zinc intakes varied from 8 to 88 (ig 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.
(Key words: zinc-methionine, zinc oxide, copper, iron, chick growth)

1638

PEMENTEL ET AL.
100 _

28

38

48

58

Pair-fed
58

Hg zinc/g diet
Figure 1. Tibia zinc concentration of 5-wk-oId chicks fed different levels of zinc oxide (ZnO) or zinc and methionine
(ZnM) (Experiment 1).

Data Collected and Analyses

Five chicks were killed by cervical dislocation at 5 wk, andfivemore chicks at 7 wk. Body
weights were determined weekly and feed
consumption measured throughout. Organs
were prepared for analysis by dry ashing and
solubilization in 10% nitric acid (aqueous
reagent grade, 70 to 71% HN03). All diets and
organs were analyzed for zinc, iron, and copper
by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.5 A
bovine liver standard (SRM Number 1577a)
obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, served as a reference.
The liver standards (n > 20) were found to
contain 96, 96, and 90% of certified values for
zinc, copper, and iron, respectively. The immune response of the chick was also studied
using similar procedures as described previously
(Pimentel et al., 1991).
Results were subjected to analysis of variance
using the General linear Models (GUM) procedures. (SAS Institute, 1982). Tests for least
significant differences were applied with a level
of statistical significance of 5%. Equations of
linear regression of the variables measured on
the dietary level of zinc oxide or zinc-methionine were determined.

Model 372, Perkin-Elmer Corp., Wilton, CT 06897.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In Experiment 1, chicks obtained maximal

growth when fed 28, 38, and 28 ug zinc/g diet
at 3, 5 and 7 wk of age, respectively. The
reduction in weight gain observed among
chicks fed 8 ug zinc/g diet in Experiment 1
appeared to be the result of reduced feed
consumption, because pair-fed controls
weighed the same as the deficient chicks. In
Experiment 2, addition of zinc to the practical
diet had little effect on body weight or feed
intakes because all diets provided at least 28
ug zinc/g diet
Organ Minerals
As dietary zinc increased there was a
significant linear increase in zinc content of
bone at both times measured with a maximum
achieved at 48 u,g zinc/g diet (Figure 1). Only
5-wk data are shown because of similarity to
7-wk data. Although bone zinc concentrations
were very sensitive to the level of zinc
consumed, they were not affected by the source
of zinc.
Pancreatic zinc concentrations generally increased as more zinc was fed but the relationship
was not as close as that for bone zinc
concentrations (Table 1). Only 7-wk data are
listed because of the similarity of 5- and
7-wk data. Pancreatic zinc concentrations were

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18

1639

RESEARCH NOTE
TABLE 1. Concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron in tissues of chicks fed dtffereint levels
of zinc oxide (ZnO) or zinc-methionine (ZnM) for 7 wk in Experiment 1*
Pancreas Zn

liver Zn

Zinc ini diet

ZnO

ZnM

ZnO

ZnM

(mg/g)
8
18
28
38
48
58
PF-582
Pooled SEM

14.2d
15.9d
19.4d
27.$*
31.91*
32.91*
32.41*
1.6

14.8d
19.1d
34.4*
32.21*
42.2*
45.4*
43.8*
2.9

18.5
18.91*
18.31*
28.1 b
23.41*
27.5 b
39.2*
1.6

18.5
18.81*
23.0b
32.3*
vi oab
19.0
43.2*
2.4

001
01
NS

.004
NS
NS

ZnM

Qig/g wet tissue)

4.8*
4.$*
4.2b
45*
2.8
4.0**
6.6*
4.6*
3.61*
4.61*
4.51*
3.71*
3.81*
4.91*
.3
2

.001
NS
NS

Liver Fe

Tibiotsirsus Cu

ZnO

ZnM

ZnO

ZnM

44.6
76.1*
71.0*
63.3*
65.5*
55.2
52.71*
2.9

44.6
70.0*
57.91*
61.9*
66.3*
63.1*
78.1*
3.0

1.90*
1.19"1

1.90*
1.30^
1.32cd

1.33*^
1.31^
1.41 bcd
1.66*
.07

.01

;NS
:NS

131U
12lci
1.85*
.07

j 01
NS
NS

*~dMean values within a variable with no common superscripts differ significantly (P<05).
'n = five per treatment.
2
Pair-fed group.

somewhat sensitive to changes in the zinc

source, perhaps because of differences in how
the zinc-methionine complex was excreted.
Chicks fed zinc-methionine had greater concentrations of zinc in pancreatic tissue than chicks
fed zinc oxide when 28 and 58 |Xg zinc/g diet
were fed.
Chicks fed 8 ug zinc/g diet in Experiment 1
had greater bone copper concentrations than the
other chicks (Table 1). Zinc intakes did not
affect copper or iron concentrations in pancreatic tissues or iron concentration in bone (data
not shown). Liver zinc, copper, and iron
concentrations were affected by zinc level, but
not in a linear manner (Table 1).
Immune Responses
Neither source nor level of zinc influenced
antibody levels or the delayed type hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutinin or human gammaglobulin in either experiment, (data not
shown). These and previous observations (Stahl
et a/., 1989; Kmentel et al, 1991) indicate that
in practical situations zinc intakes of chicks are
seldom low enough to induce immune changes.
hi summary, the bioavailability of zinc from
zinc-methionine or zinc oxide appeared similar.
Previously, Hill et al. (1987) and Hempe and

Cousins (1989) observed mat zinc from zincmethionine or from zinc chloride were absorbed
equally well from isolated rat or chicken
duodenal segments. The present observations in
vivo are consistent with their in vitro findings.
REFERENCES
Greene, L. W., N. K. Chirase, D. K. Lunt, and G. T.
Schelling, 1988. Performance and carcass characteristics of steers fed zinc oxide and zinc-methionine. J.
Anim. Sci. 66:1818-1823.
Greger, J. L. 1989. Effect of dietary protein and minerals on
calcium and zinc utilization. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr.
28:249-271.
Hempe, J. M., and R. J. Cousins, 1989. Effects of EDTA and
zinc-methionine complex on zinc absorption by rat
intestine. J. Nutr. 119:1179-1187.
Hill, D. A., E. R. Peo, and A. J. Lewis, 1987. Effect of zinc
source and picolinic acid on zinc-65 uptake in an in
vitro continuous-flow perfusion system for pigs and
poultry intestinal segments. J. Nutr. 117:1704-1707.
National Research Council, 1984. Nutrients requirements of
poultry. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
Pimentel, X. L., M. E. Cook, and J. L. Greger, 1991. Immune
responses of chicks fed various levels of zinc. Poultry
Sci. 70:947-954.
SAS Institute. 1982. The GLM procedure. Pages 139-199
in: SAS User's Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute, Inc.,
Cary, NC.
Stabl J. L., J. L. Greger, and M. E. Cook, 1989. Zinc, copper
and iron utilization by chicks fed various concentrations of zinc. Br. Poult Sci. 30:123-134.

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ANOVJ^ summary
Source of variation
Zinc level
Zinc source
Source by level

Liver Cu
ZnO