Dietary zinc oxide does not suppress Salmonella Typhimurium infection of pigs : Worldwide Research Efforts in the Fighting against Microbial Pathogens: From Basic Research to Technological Developments

After the ban of in-feed antibiotics in the European Union, much interest has been raised on potential use of probiotics with specific function in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of farm animals. Antimicrobial properties of zinc are believed to be the reason for improvement of performance of pigs fed dietary zinc oxide. Because of environmental pollution, maximal dietary zinc level in the EU is 150 mg/kg, but elsewhere dose of 2,000-3,000 mg/kg are used. The effect of the different levels of zinc oxide on Salmonella infection was investigated in an in vivo challenge model in weaning piglets.