Effects of peroral supplementation of different forms of zinc on the ruminal mucosa of goat kids – a morphometric study

The aim of the study was to identify the effect of supplementation of various forms of zinc on the ruminal mucosa and dimensions of ruminal papillae in 6-month-old goat kids. The experimental period lasted from weaning to slaughter (4 months). All 20 kids divided into four groups of five animals, were fed with the same feeding dose, which was different only in the quantity and form of zinc. Control group was without additional zinc supplementation (group A), the other groups were supplemented with zinc in the form of ZnO (group B), zinc in the form of chelate (group C) and zinc in the form of lactate (group D). Samples for histopathological and morphometric examination were collected after the slaughter of all animals from the bottom of saccus ruminis ventralis everytime from the same place. Significant differences were reported within the comparison of the length of ruminal papillae between groups B and C (P = 0.026) and B and D (P = 0.040), within the comparison of the width of ruminal papillae between groups A and D (P = 0.020) and within the comparison of the intensity of keratinisation of the mucosa of ruminal papillae between groups A and B (P = 0.034), A and C (P = 0.038) and A and D (P = 0.001). Histopathological and morphometric examination of ruminal mucosa indicated that the ruminal papillae of kids supplemented with zinc in the form of ZnO (group B) were better developed compared to the other groups. This result indicates better utilisation of the supplemented zinc in the form of ZnO.