Reducing ZnO by changing gut microbiota

Zinc (Zn) plays an important role in the metabolism of swine and as such is an essential trace element for growing pigs. The element is also known to have negative side effects. Which alternatives exist? In the late 1980’s, it was discovered that pharmacological concentrations (1,500-3,000 ppm) of zinc oxide (ZnO) resulted in reduced diarrhoea and increased growth in weanling pigs. To minimise the risk of environmental pollution, in the EU, the legal norm for Zn is 150 mg/kg (ppm) of Zn in co