(ZnMeFeO4)-Fe-III catalysts with different trivalent metal (Me-III = Fe, Al, Cr, Mn, and Co) were prepared by a co-precipitation method, and were applied to the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene. Successful formation of (ZnMeFeO4)-Fe-III catalysts was confirmed by XRD and ICP-AES analyses. Catalytic performance of (ZnMeFeO4)-Fe-III catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene strongly depended on the identity of trivalent metal (Me-III). Acid properties of (ZnMeFeO4)-Fe-III catalysts were measured by NH3-TPD experiments, with an aim of correlating the catalytic performance with the surface acid property of the catalysts. It was revealed that yield for 1,3-butadiene increased with increasing surface weak-acid density of (ZnMeFeO4)-Fe-III catalyst. Among the catalysts tested, ZnFeFeO4 catalyst with the largest surface weak-acid density showed the best catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene.