Dietary Levels of Zinc and Manganese on the Performance of Broilers Between 1 to 42 Days of Age

Bhc Pacheco,Eh Kobashigawa,De Faria,De Faria Filho,Vs Nakagi,Arm Caniatto

doi:10.1590/1806-9061-2016-0323

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal dietary concentration of zinc and manganese on the performance characteristic and the requirement of these trace minerals derived from organic sources for broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. In experiment 1, zinc was evaluated, whereas manganese was evaluated in experiment 2. In each experiment, 320 males chicks were distributed in iron mesh metabolic cages (0.9m x 0.7m x 0.5m), according to a completely randomized experimental design in eight treatments with five replicates of eight birds each. In experiment 1, zinc sulfate was included at 0,60 and 100mg/kg and zinc methionine at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100mg/kg. In experiment 2, manganese sulfate was added at 0, 65 and 105mg/kg and manganese methionine at 25, 45, 65, 85 and 105 mg/kg. Trace mineral requirements were determined comparing only organic trace mineral levels. The evaluated trace minerals (zinc and manganese) did not influence broiler performance, independently of source or level. It was concluded that the requirements of broilers from 1 to 42 days of age were supplied with no addition of zinc or manganese, under the conditions of the present experiments. However, under commercial rearing conditions, which are more challenging, the use of levels higher than 33.00 mg/kg and37.80 mg/kg of zinc and manganese, respectively, may be justified.

Highlights

There has been extensive research on organic trace minerals, as they have higher bioavailability and are stored longer in the body than their inorganic counterparts (Kiefer, 2005)
The efficacy of the use of micro elements is an important issue in modern poultry nutrition
The results of experiment 1 did not show any influence of zinc levels (p>0.05) on the performance characteristics that were weekly evaluated during the periods from 1 to 7, 8 to 14, 15 to 21, 22 to 28, 29 to 35, and 36 to 42 days of age and the periods from 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 and the total experimental period from 1 to 42 days (Table7)

Summary

Introduction

There has been extensive research on organic trace minerals, as they have higher bioavailability and are stored longer in the body than their inorganic counterparts (Kiefer, 2005). The nutritional requirements of broilers vary according to sex and rearing phase, and are typically reduced with age. This applies to trace minerals, and it is important to perform studies to determine their precise requirements for optimal bird development, thereby preventing the supply of excessive amounts, which may cause environmental pollution and result in additional costs (Gomes et al, 2009). The efficacy of the use of micro elements is an important issue in modern poultry nutrition. Micro elements are essential for normal growth and many metabolic processes in living organisms, as they are catalysts or constituents of the enzymatic systems of many cells. The availability of minerals from feed materials of plant origin, as well as from traditional inorganic sources, i.e., oxides, sulphates, or carbonates, is relatively low, while the requirements of modern broiler chickens for microelements are very high (Aksu et al, 2012)

Objectives

Methods

Results