Abstract: Forty "Duroc譒andrace譟orkshire" crossbred weanling piglets (21 d of age) were randomly divided into 4 groups of each 10 piglets by weight and sex, which were fed the basal diet with 100, 1000, 2000, 3000 mg/kg zinc (ZnO),respectively. The trial lasted for 49 days, including preset period for 7 days and test period for 42 days. The results showed that 3000 mg/kg zinc (Zn) diet significantly increased the contents of zinc (P<0.05), decreased the contents of copper in serum (P>0.05). 3000 mg/kg Zn could significantly increase contents of zinc in liver, kidney and duodenum (P<0.01). But it had no difference in the serum and other tissues contents of Zn in other groups (P>0.05). 3000 mg/kg Zn diet could reduce the contents of copper in spleen, lymph gland, duodenum, and kidney (P>0.05), and increase the contents of copper in liver (P<0.01). It was confirmed that the 3000 mg/kg Zn diets enhanced the Zn levels in the tissues of weanling stress piglets, and reduced the copper levels in some tissues of piglets.

Key words: weanling piglets; zinc oxide; copper; zinc