PSXIII-8 - Effects of different sources of Zn on in vitro ruminal fermentation and digestibility of a lactation diet

Vistore® minerals are hydroxychloride minerals that feature high metal content and improved bioavailability. This study was conducted to compare different sources of zinc (Zn) on in vitro rumen fermentation parameters. Three ruminally-cannulated Jersey heifers were adapted to a lactation diet for two weeks before used as donors. Three sources of Zn were tested at 20 ppm: No supplemental Zn (CON), ZnSO₄, Vistore Zn, and another Zn hydroxychloride (Vistore-competitor). The concentration of Zn in this study was selected from a titration study (0 to 40 ppm ZnSO₄) to identify the minimum concentration of ZnSo₄ affecting rumen fermentation. The lactation diet (TMR) was dried and ground to 1mm and used as substrate. Rumen fluid was collected two hours after feeding. Substrate (0.5 g) was inoculated with 100 mL of 3:1 McDougall's buffer: ruminal flued mixture at 39ºC for 24 h. Each treatment was run in triplicate and in three runs. Data were analyzed with R 3.0. The model included fixed effect of treatment and random effect of run. ZnSO₄ reduced (P < 0.05) maximum gas production, DMD (54 vs. 55.9%) and cellulose (27.5 and 40.7%) digestibility. acetate to propionate ration (2.20 vs. 2.24) and NH₃-N concentration (6.0 vs. 7.0 mg/dL), increased (P < 0.05) propionate % (27.2 vs 26.7%) compared to control. Vistore had higher pH than control (6.44 vs. 6.40, P = 0.02) but did not affect other parameters compared to CON. Vistore-competitor reduced total VFA production compared to control, ZnSO₄, and Vistore (94 vs. 102, 106 and 107 mM, respectively, P = 0.01) but did not affect other parameters. In general, Vistore Zn maintained in vitro ruminal fermentation and digestibility, while ZnSO₄ had negative effects on both fermentation and digestibility and Vistore-competitor reduced total VFAs. Results indicate hydroxychloride minerals may stabilize rumen parameters versus sulfate sources but different hydroxychloride sources appear to influence rumen parameters differently.