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Interactions of Dietary Calcium with Toxic Levels of Lead and Zinc in Pigs

Department of Pathology, New York State Veterinary College, and Department of Animal Science, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

Twenty-four weanling Yorkshire pigs were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine their response to high levels of dietary lead (Pb) (1,000 ppm) and zinc (Zn) (4,000 ppm) (as lead acetate and zinc oxide), to investigate the influence of high dietary calcium (Ca) (1.1%) on the biochemical and morphological manifestations of Pb and Zn toxicity, and to determine the effect of excess Zn on Pb toxicity. Clinical signs of Pb toxicity included behavioral changes, lameness, and anorexia. Pb content of blood, soft tissues, and bone was increased markedly by 1,000 ppm Pb in the diet during the 13-week experiment. Zn and Pb fed together, as compared with Pb alone, tended to increase Pb levels in blood, soft tissues, and bone and to enhance the toxic effects of Pb as shown by reduced weight gains, severe clinical signs, and pathological changes. High Ca reduced blood and bone Zn and Pb concentrations. The results indicate that high dietary Ca has a protective effect against the adverse effects of diet Pb and Zn, and that Zn aggravates Pb toxicity in growing pigs.

KEY WORDS: • swine lead and zinc toxicity • calcium-lead interaction • lead-zinc interaction

¹ Department of Pathology, New York State Veterinary College, Cornell University.

² Department of Animal Science, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University.

Manuscript received 9 July 1974.

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