ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2025 45 absorbing large amounts of gastric acid and weakening the stomach’s natural defense. In contrast, organic acids exhibit a negative acid-binding value and can offset the adverse effects of high ABC ingredients. Among mineral additives, ZnO is particularly notable, with one of the highest reported ABC-4 values (16,321 mEq HCl/ kg). Consequently, inclusion of ZnO at pharmacological levels or the use of certain calcium sources can sharply increase the acid-binding capacity of the diet. Managing the ABC-4 of the feed is being evaluated as an alternative to replace the pharmacological levels of ZnO. Kansas State University (KSU) has extensively evaluated the role of ABC-4 in weaned piglet diets. Their studies suggest an optimal range of 200–300 mEq HCl/kg, with phase-specific recommendations: 200–250 mEq for phase 1 (0–10 days) and 250–300 mEq for phase 2 (11–24 days) post-weaning. Staying within this window helps maintain gastric function and piglet performance, offering a viable alternative to pharmacological ZnO without compromising results (Stas et al., 2022). A potentiated zinc oxide source (PZnO, Animine, France), supported by over 30 globally published papers, possesses unique physicochemical properties such as intermediate density, large particle size, and high specific surface area. These features enhance antibacterial activity and bioavailability, making it effective at much lower inclusion levels compared with standard ZnO doses of 3–4 kg/ton of feed. Building on this, KSU conducted a 24-day study in which low ABC-4 diets were combined with increasing doses of PZnO (Table 1), as a potential -13550 -5605 -2283 104 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 -5000 -10000 -15000 -20000 108 111 ABC-4 (mEq HCI/kg) 434 642 738 3098 12566 12932 16321 Formic acid Citric acid Acetic acid Barley Wheat Corn Whey Soybean meal Fish meal Dicalcium phosphate Sodium bicarbonate Limestone Zinc oxide Lawlor et al., 2005 Figure 1. ABC-4 values of some commonly used feed ingredients Treatment Phase 1 (0 to 10 d) Zn, mg/kg / ABC4, mEq HCl/kg Table 1. Zinc sources* at different dosages with the corresponding ABC-4 values Positive control (ZnO) PZnO 150/150 PZnO 500/300 PZnO 800/500 3000 / 296 150 / 209 500 / 221 800 / 230 Phase 2 (11 to 24 d) Zn, mg/kg / ABC4, mEq HCl/kg 2000 / 306 150 / 253 300 / 258 500 / 265 *Zinc sources : ZnO = Standard ZnO, PZnO = Potentiated Zinc Oxide (Animine, France)
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