Abstract: A 9-month old Poitou buck was presented at the Alfort National Veterinary School for weight loss, growth retardation, testicular hypoplasia and non-pruritic troncal alopecia associated with scaly lesions that had developed over two months. Striations were also observed at the base of the horns. The clinical picture is characteristic of zinc deficiency. Only the plasma-zinc concentration showed values less than normal. The animal recovered with a treatment based on zinc administered by mouth.