Effects of increasing supplemental zinc to non-implanted and implanted finishing steers

The effects of supplemental Zn within steroidal implant strategy on performance, carcass characteristics, trace mineral status, and muscle gene expression were tested in a 59-d study using 128 Angus-crossbred steers (492 ± 29 kg) in a 2 × 4 complete randomized design. Implant strategies included no implant (NoIMP) or Component TE-200 (TE200; Elanco, Greenfield, IN) administered on day 0. Zinc was supplemented at 0, 30, 100, or 150 mg Zn/kg dry matter (Zn0, Zn30, Zn100, Zn150, respectively) from ZnSO4. Steers were stratified by body weight (BW) to pens (n = 5 or 6 steers/pen) equipped with GrowSafe bunks (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) and assigned treatments (n = 15, 16, or 17 steers/treatment). Cattle were weighed on days -1, 0, 18, and 59 with blood collected on days -1, 18, 40, and 59. Muscle samples were collected from the longissimus thoracis on day 11 and liver samples were collected on day 55 or 56. Data were analyzed using the Mixed Procedure of SAS via contrast statements testing the linear and quadratic response to Zn supplementation within implant treatment and NoIMP vs. TE200 for performance, carcass, blood, and liver parameters. Specific contrast statements were formed for the analysis of gene expression in muscle including: Zn0 vs. Zn150 within NoIMP and TE200, NoIMP vs. TE200 (Zn0 and Zn150 only), and the linear effect of supplementing Zn0, Zn100, and Zn150 within TE200. Steer was the experimental unit. Day 18 BW and days 0 to 18 average daily gain (ADG) were linearly increased due to Zn supplementation within TE200 (P ≤ 0.002) in conjunction with a linear increase from Zn in day 11 muscle epidermal growth factor receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and phosphodiesterase 4B gene expression of TE200 steers (P ≤ 0.05). Plasma Zn on days 18 and 40 linearly increased with increasing Zn supplementation regardless of implant treatment (P ≤ 0.03) and was lesser for TE200 than NoIMP steers on day 18 (P = 0.001). Day 59 BW and hot carcass weight (HCW) were greater for TE200 vs. NoIMP (P ≤ 0.002) and HCW of implanted steers tended to linearly increase with increasing Zn supplementation (P = 0.09). No effects of Zn supplementation were observed in NoIMP for HCW, BW, or ADG (P ≥ 0.17). Yield grade and 12th rib fat tended to quadratically decrease within NoIMP (P ≤ 0.09), with Zn100 being the most lean. These data indicate increasing supplemental Zn influences steroidal implant signaling machinery while increasing the Zn status and implant-induced growth of feedlot cattle.