Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Zinc Methionine or Zinc Sulfate Supplementation on Milk Production and Composition of Milk in Lactating Dairy Cows

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Eighteen lactating dairy cows were used to compare the effects of organic and inorganic Zn supplements on milk production and chemical composition of milk. Animals received three diets in a randomized block design: basal diet with no supplemental Zn (control, 42 mg Zn/kg), basal diet plus 500 mg Zn/kg of dry matter (DM) as zinc sulfate monohydrate (ZnS) and basal diet plus 500 mg Zn/kg of DM as zinc methionine (ZnM). Results showed that milk and fat-corrected milk yield in dairy cows were not significantly affected by Zn source although a numerical increase was observed. The percentages of protein, lactose, fat, solid nonfat, total solid, and density of milk were not significantly different between treatments. However, dairy cows that received ZnM tended to produce more milk and fat-corrected milk with a lower somatic cell count as compared to controls. The zinc concentration in milk in the ZnM and ZnS groups was higher (P < 0.05) than in milk from the control group, but there were no significant differences between ZnS and ZnM groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Malakuti MJ (1997) Persistant agriculture and Increased function with the best fertilizer usage in Iran, Karaj, Agric. pub. 300–304

  2. Prasad AS (1995) Zinc: an overview. Nutrition 11:93–99

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rink L, Kirchner H (2000) Zinc-altered immune function and cytokine production. J Nutr 30:1407s–1411s

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cook-Mills J, Fraker PJ (1993) Functional capacity of residual lymphocytes from zinc deficient adult mice. Br J Nutr 69:835–848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Miller JK, Madsen FC (1992) Trace minerals. In: Van Horn HH, Wilcox CJ (eds) Large dairy herd management. American Dairy Science Association, Champaign, p 297

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kellogg DW (1990) Zinc methionine affects performance of lactating cows. Feedstuffs 62:15–16

    Google Scholar 

  7. Spears JW (1996) Organic trace minerals in ruminant nutrition. Anim Feed Sci Tech 58:151–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wedekind KJ, Hortin AE, Baker DH (1992) Methodology for assessing zinc bioavailability: efficacy estimates for zinc-methionine, zinc sulfate, and zinc oxide. J Anim Sci 70:178–187

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. NRC (National Research Council) (2001) Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle, 7th revised edition. National Academy, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  10. AOAC (2005) Official methods of analysis, 18th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC

  11. Goering HK, Van Soest PJ (1970) Forage fiber analyses (apparatus, reagents, procedures, and some applications). Agric. handbook no. 379. ARS-USDA, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  12. Heckman M (1968) Collaborative study of minerals in feeds by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. J AOAC 51:776

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hankinson DJ (1975) Potential sources of copper contamination of farm milk supplies measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. J Dairy Sci 58:326–336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kellogg DJ, Socha MT, Johnson AB (2004) Review: effects of zinc methionine complex on milk production and somatic cell count of dairy cows: twelve-trial summary. Pro Anim Sci 4:295–299

    Google Scholar 

  15. Boland MP, O'Donnell G, O'Callaghan D (1996) The contribution of mineral proteinates to production and reproduction in dairy cattle. In: Lyons TP, Jaques K (eds) Biotechnology in the feed industry. Proceedings of Alltech's twelfth annual symposium. Nottigham University Press, Loughborough, pp 95–103

    Google Scholar 

  16. Dibley MJ (2001) Zinc. In: Bowman BA, Russell RM (eds) Present knowledge in nutrition, 8th edn. International Life Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, p 329

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wirth JJ, Fraker PJ, Kierszenbaum F (1984) Changes in the levels of marker expression by mononuclear phagocytes in zinc deficient mice. J Nutr 114:1826–1833

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Craven N, Williams MR (1985) Defenses of the bovine mammary gland against infection and prospects for their enhancement. Vet Immunol Immunopathy 10:71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Nickerson SC (1990) Defense mechanisms of the cow. In Proc. 29th Annu. Mtg., Louisville, KY. p 157. Natl. Mastitis Council, Arlington, VA

  20. Rodriguez EMR, Alaejos MS, Romero CD (2001) Mineral concentrations in cow’s milk from the Canary Island. J Food Comp Anal 14:419–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Miller WJ, Amos HE, Gentry RP, Blackmon DM, Durrence RM, Fielding AS, Neathery MW (1989) Long term feeding of high zinc sulfate diets to lactating and gestating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 72:1499

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Strusinska D, Mierejewska J, Skok A (2004) Concentration of mineral components, beta-carotene, vitamins A and E in cow colostrum and milk when using mineral–vitamin supplements. Medycyna Weterynaryjna 60:202–206

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kirhgessner M, Paulicks BR, Hagemeister H (1994) Zinc concentration in the milk of dairy cows supplemented with high-levels of zinc methionine. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 72:165–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Jakob Sehested for editing the text in English.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, Islamic Azad University—Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran

    Saeid Sobhanirad & Reza Bahari Kashani

  2. Department of Animal Health and Bioscience, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    Dorthe Carlson

Authors
  1. Saeid Sobhanirad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dorthe Carlson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reza Bahari Kashani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saeid Sobhanirad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sobhanirad, S., Carlson, D. & Bahari Kashani, R. Effect of Zinc Methionine or Zinc Sulfate Supplementation on Milk Production and Composition of Milk in Lactating Dairy Cows. Biol Trace Elem Res 136, 48–54 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8526-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8526-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation