The effect of inorganic, organic and nano-zinc sources on growth performance, blood parameters and antioxidant activity of Sanjabi lambs

Zinc is one of the most important and essential trace elements that plays a vital role in many biological processes such as the activity of enzymes and hormones, cell membrane stability, gene expression, cell division and antioxidant defense. Therefore, this experiment was performed to compare the effects of supplementation of nano (zinc nano oxide), organic (zinc polysaccharide) and inorganic (zinc sulfate) forms of the trace element zinc on performance, antioxidant status and some blood parameters of growing Sanjabi lambs.

This study was performed on 20 male Sanjabi lambs (approximate age 4.5 months and mean weight 29.55 ± 1.1 kg). Treatments include 1) control group (basic diet without zinc supplement), 2) zinc sulfate group, 3) zinc-polysaccharide group 4) zinc nano oxide group. The amount of zinc added in each experimental group was 20 mg / kg dry matter. The diet was given to the lambs freely for 60 days in the morning and evening. In order to evaluate the growth performance, weight loss was performed at the beginning of the experiment and then at 15-day intervals. To determine the amount of dry matter consumed, the amount of feed and its residue were measured daily for each animal. To measure blood parameters and antioxidant status, blood samples were taken in the first days, 30 and 60. Data were analyzed using SAS statistical software version 9.2 using Mixed procedure and Duncan test was used to compare the means at the probability level of 0.05.

The use of zinc supplement in different forms had no effect on the growth performance of lambs (P >0.05). The use of 20 mg zinc per kg of dietary dry matter in different forms caused a significant increase in plasma compared to the control group (P <0.05), but had no significant effect on plasma copper and iron concentrations and serum calcium and phosphorus(P >0.05). The activity of superoxide dismutase increased in the groups supplemented with zinc (P <0.05). Despite the decrease in serum malondialdehyde index in the zinc supplemented groups compared to the control treatment, this difference was significant only in the zinc nano oxide group (P <0.05). The use of different forms of zinc had no effect on the total antioxidant capacity (P >0.05).

The results of this experiment showed that the use of zinc supplement in different forms (inorganic, organic and nano) increases the concentration of zinc in plasma. In addition, it reduces the malondialdehyde index and increases the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme.