Zinc Metabolism in the Growing Chick. Tissue Concentration and Effect of Phytate on Absorption

THERE is relatively little information regarding the distribution of zinc in the tissues of the chicken and essentially nothing is known about zinc absorption and excretion in avian species. Fouad (1960) determined zinc in bones, liver, feathers and intestines of chicks maintained for 3 weeks on diets containing 35 and 100 p.p.m. of zinc. All tissues from chicks that consumed 35 p.p.m. of zinc contained less zinc than those fed 100 p.p.m. but the greatest difference was observed in bones, 80 versus 196 mcg. per gram dry matter, respectively. Kienholz et al. (1962) maintained hens on a soy protein basal diet (10 p.p.m.) and a zinc supplemented diet (70 p.p.m.) for seven months. Eggs from the basal group contained less zinc than normal but, on a fresh weight basis, the zinc content of bones was unaffected. The zinc supplemented diet produced zinc concentrations in liver which were nearly twice that…