Investigation of the effect of supplementary zinc on growth rate of beef cattle on farms in N. Scotland

Abstract

SummaryTrials were conducted on 21 farms to examine the influence of supplementary zinc on growth rate of 978 beef cattle maintained on winter rations typical of N.E. Scotland.The concentration of zinc in the normal farm rations ranged from 13·3 to 32·1 mg/kg D.M. and half of the animals on trial on each farm received supplements providing an additional 60 mg Zn/kg D.M. Before supplementation, the farm mean plasma zinc concentrations varied from 0·73 to l·10mg Zn/l; these levels were not elevated by zinc supplementation.The differences in mean daily weight gain between zinc-supplemented and control cattle on individual farms during 100–140 days on trial ranged from –0·14 to +0·22 kg/day and were not related to plasma zinc concentration before supplementation or to the zinc content of the basal rations. The mean daily weight gain of heifers receiving supplementary zinc was significantly greater (P< 0·02) than that of the controls by 0·05 kg/day during the first 60–80 days only. Bulls and steers showed no response to supplementary zinc.