Effect of using organic microminerals on performance and external quality of eggs of commercial laying hens at the end of laying

Mônica Patrícia Maciel,Edilson Paes Saraiva,Pedro Assunção Pimenta Ribeiro,Jussara Barros Silva,Débora Pereira Passos,Édina De Fátima Aguiar

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982010000200017

Mônica Patrícia Maciel, Edilson Paes Saraiva + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-35982010000200017

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Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of using microminerals in organic form on the performance and quality of eggs from commercial laying hens at the end of laying. Four hundred and eighty Hisex strain hens, 72 to 80 weeks of age, were used. A randomized complete design was used, with six replications and 16 birds for each experimental unit. Five diets were evaluated: basal feed supplemented with all microminerals in inorganic form (control); basal feed supplemented with 50% microminerals zinc (Zn) + manganese (Mn) + copper (Cu) in organic form and 50% in inorganic form; basal feed supplemented with 50% zinc in organic form and 50% in inorganic form; basal feed supplemented with 50% manganese in organic form and 50% in inorganic form; and basal feed supplemented with 50% copper in organic form and 50% in inorganic form. There was no effect of diets on egg production, feed intake, food conversion and egg shell percentage and thickness. Birds fed basal feed supplemented only with zinc or manganese in organic form produced eggs with lower specific weight. The use of basal feed supplemented with copper in organic form has minimized egg loss. However, the best results (lower egg loss, higher specific weight and higher weight of eggs) were obtained with the basal feed supplemented with microminerals Zn + Mn + Cu in organic form and, therefore, it is recommended for feeding of commercial laying at the end of laying.

Highlights

Organic minerals or chelated minerals have been studied by several researchers because they may present better bioavailability than inorganic minerals
Treatments consisted of five different diets: basal feed supplemented with all microminerals in inorganic form; basal feed supplemented with 50% zinc, manganese and copper minerals in organic form and 50% in inorganic form; basal feed supplemented with 50% zinc in organic form and 50% in inorganic form; basal feed supplemented with 50% manganese in organic form and 50% in inorganic form; basal feed supplemented with 50% copper in organic form and 50% in inorganic form
Most of the studies in the literature do not report effects of organic minerals on production, feed intake and food conversion (Kienholz, 1992; Dale & Strong, 1998; Ludeen, 2001; Sechinato, 2006), with the exception of Branton et al (1995), who observed an improvement in laying percentage of birds that received chelated minerals

Summary

Introduction

Organic minerals or chelated minerals have been studied by several researchers because they may present better bioavailability than inorganic minerals. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in the results of egg production, feed intake and food conversion with the supplementation of feed with microminerals in organic form.

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