A diet moderately deficient in zinc induces limited intestinal alterations in weaned pigs ☆ J.P. Lallès ⁎ , C. Favier 1 , C. Jondreville INRA, UMR1079, SENAH, Domaine de la Prise, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Abstract The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that a moderate zinc deficiency induces intestinal alterations in weaned piglets. A diet based on maize and soybean meal was formulated without supplemental zinc (33 ppm, zinc-deficient) or with added zinc (113 ppm, control). These diets were pair-fed for 18 or 27 d to intra-litter pairs of piglets weaned at 21 d of age. The feed intake and growth, plasma concentrations of zinc and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and morphometry, enzyme activities and the microflora of the mid-jejunum were investigated. Feed intake and growth were similar between diets and diarrhoea was not observed. By contrast, plasma zinc and ALP activity were much lower in zinc-deficient piglets at slaughter (P b 0.001). The weight of organs was unaffected, except colonic tissue that was lighter in piglets fed the zinc-deficient diet (P b 0.05). Neither villus-crypt intestinal architecture nor mucosal enzyme activities were altered. Jejunal counts of lactic acid bacteria and coliforms tended to be higher in the zinc-deficient pigs (P ≤ 0.10). In conclusion, feeding a diet moderately deficient in zinc for 18–27 d induced limited intestinal alterations in weaned pigs. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Pig; Weaning; Zinc deficiency; Intestine 1. Introduction Zinc is an essential trace element involved in many metabolic functions. Zinc deficiency is associated with parakeratosis, decreased feed intake and weight gain, and diarrhoea in young pigs (Miller et al., 1968; Whitenack et al., 1978). Shorter and lower numbers of intestinal villi and crypts have been reported in zinc- deficient (12 ppm) pigs (Whitenack et al., 1978). Rats submitted to a severe zinc deficiency (1–2 ppm) develop damage and inflammation of the small intestine (Mengheri et al., 1999). Villus dimensions and mucosal enzyme activities are reduced in the jejunum (Southon et al., 1985; Mengheri et al., 1999). Post-weaning disorders include morphological and functional alterations of the small intestine, colibacillo- sis and diarrhoea. Large amounts of dietary zinc reduce the incidence and severity of non-specific post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets (Poulsen, 1995). Whether zinc deficiency exacerbates such disorders is not known. The aim of the present work was to examine the impact of a 3–4 week period of a moderate zinc deficiency on the gastrointestinal tract of weaned pigs. Livestock Science 108 (2007) 153 – 155 www.elsevier.com/locate/livsci ☆ This paper is part of the special issue entitled “Digestive Physiology in Pigs” guest edited by José Adalberto Fernández, Mette Skou Hedemann, Bent Borg, Jensen, Henry Jørgensen, Knud Erik Bach Knudsen and Helle Nygaard Lærke. ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 223485359; fax: +33 223485080. E-mail address: Jean-Paul.Lalles@rennes.inra.fr (J.P. Lallès). 1 Present address: Bio-Rad, route de Cassel, 59114 Steenvoorde, France. 1871-1413/$ - see front matter © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.01.033